At our Arranging Tropical Flowers class, we created this small exotic flower arrangement using a set of tropical flowers and leaves. At the flower market, such a set called ‘tropical bouquet’.
At the market, tropical flowers (birds of paradise, pin cushions, protea, ginger, palm leaves, bromeliad, orchids, anthuriums, and heliconia) are available in bunches of 5-10 stems, or by box, and some flowers are sold by peace.
See my step-by-step tutorial for this tropical flower arrangement
People love exotic. And, newsflash, you don’t have to take an expensive trip to Bali to get a taste of it. All you really need is to have your wholesale florist order them and create gorgeous tropical bouquets for your clients.
But don’t get ahead of yourself, caring for tropical flowers isn’t quite as simple of a task as caring for your typical household flowers. They are much more delicate and, for that reason, require more specialized attention.
With that said, here’s how to care for tropical flowers so they can flourish and make a killer first impression for your event.
General Tropical Bouquet Care
At Mila Floral Art School, we teach our students: Tropical flowers need more love, care, and attention than non-exotic flowers. Since most are native to extraordinary places like the Amazon Basin in Brazil, the Congo Basin in West Africa, and the volcanic islands of Indonesia (or Ecuador!), it’s vitally important to give them a healthy environment that is similar to the one they naturally thrive in.
1. Unpack your tropical flowers ASAP. Tropical flowers don’t do well without water. So right when you get your hands on your gorgeous exotic blooms, you should get them out of their package and into some fresh water from your sink. And never, we repeat, never put tropical flowers in the fridge. That’s a fast lane to flower heaven, to put it mildly.
2. Remove foliage. Once you’ve unpacked your flowers, it’s time to cut off the extra foliage on each individual stem. First, this means getting rid of any discolored or dead petals or leaves. And second, it means to remove any foliage that will rest below your vase’s waterline, as the leaves could introduce bacteria into your water. Trust us; you don’t want that happening.
3. Trim the stems. As with any other flower, you’ll want to cut 1/2 inch to 2 inches off the stems using a sharp knife. But make sure to slice at a 45-degree angle while holding the stem under room temperature water to ensure your flowers absorb water as efficiently as possible. They’ll thank you.
4. Fill your vase. Now that your tropical flowers are ready to go swimming, it’s time to give them a clean pool. So grab a vase and wash it with hot water and soap to kill any pesky bacteria. Next, fill two-thirds of the vase with cool water and move on to the next step.
5. Tropical flowers love warm, humid areas, and avoid placing them in a room with little light or cool drafts. Also, never ever place cut flowers under direct sunlight—a big NO.
7. To extend your tropical flowers’ vase life, you should change their water, and trim their stems. Also, unlike non-exotic flowers, tropical flowers absorb water directly through their blooms as well, so misting them with water every day is also a good idea.
Birds of Paradise Tropical Flower Care
These exotic flowers have perhaps one of the most unique and captivating appearances in the entire flower world.
To properly care for birds of paradise flowers, you should perform all the steps above. But, in addition to that, once your birds of paradise arrive, you should insert your thumb into the unopened bloom and gently remove the membrane that separates each individual flower. By doing this, your birds of paradise will sprout extra flowers, making them look much more irresistible in your home.
Orchid Tropical Flower Care
Orchids are one of the most notable and exquisite flowers out there. But despite that—or perhaps because of it—they are exceptionally expensive and delicate.
The first thing you should do is submerge it entirely underwater for 10 minutes to refresh its blooms. Also, make sure to mist it every day to keep it hearty and healthy.
Heliconia Tropical Flower Care
Heliconia, also commonly known as lobster claws, are beautiful exotic flowers native to the Pacific islands and Indonesia. These flowers are the ultimate-statement maker.
To maintain a happy and healthy heliconia, you should perform all the general care tips mentioned above. If you want your heliconia’s bracts or claws to look even more eye-catching, consider washing them with a little detergent upon arrival. This will make their signature red color will pop even more!
Anthurium Tropical Flower Care
Anthuriums are heart-shaped flowers in red, pink, green, white, purple, burgundy, and variegated red/green colors. Surprisingly, the heart-shaped bloom is actually not a flower at all; it’s a protective leaf. The flowers themselves are extremely tiny and are housed on the plant’s protruding spike. Across many cultures, anthuriums are a symbol of hospitality.
Immediately upon arrival, you should start caring for tropical flowers by soaking the entire flower and stem in cool water for 10 minutes to rehydrate it. For best results, repeat this process every two or three days. And don’t forget to mist it every day as well.
The Bouqs Company will delivered tropical flowers right to your door.
Tropical Flower Meanings
Anthurium
Anthurium – symbolizes hospitality. It is also used to indicate happiness and abundance.
Bird of Paradise
Bird of Paradise – symbolizes joyfulness and magnificence. It can also be used to indicate exciting and wonderful anticipation.
Bougainvillea
It is the national flower of the Caribbean nation of Granada and the United States territory of Guam.
Malaysians call Bougainvillea “bunga kekwa” or “paper flower”, because of the papery quality of the bracts. One Hawaiian nickname is “pua kepalo,” which means “devil flower.” This is most likely a reference to its sharp spines and possibly to the red bracts. In spite of this devilish nickname, Hawaiians sometimes use Bougainvillea in their leis which are a symbol of welcome.
Calla Lily
Calla Lily – symbolizes magnificence and beauty. White Calla lilies combine these two attributes with purity and innocence associated with the color white to make it the perfect choice of flower in a wedding bouquet.
Gardenia
Gardenia – symbolizes purity and sweetness. They indicate secret love. They convey joy. They tell the receiver you are lovely.
Oriental Lily
Lily – symbolizes purity and refined beauty. The white lily symbolizes modesty and virginity, burgundy lily symbolizes passion, and yellow lily symbolizes gaiety.
Orchid
A symbol of exotic beauty. It symbolizes refinement, thoughtfulness, and mature charm. It also symbolizes proud and glorious femininity.
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