If you've recently picked up a planted arrangement from our Avondale garden shop, or you're considering one, you might be wondering how it's different from a regular bouquet, and what it actually takes to keep it thriving in a Jacksonville home. As Jacksonville's longtime source for living arrangements and planted orchids, we get this question a lot, so we put together a real answer. Here's everything you need to know about caring for your Anita's arrangement, plus what makes planted arrangements worth choosing over cut flowers in the first place.
Here's the first thing to know: what you're holding isn't a bouquet. It's a living plant. That's the whole point of what we do at Anita's. While cut flowers start fading the moment they're snipped, our planted arrangements are just getting started. With a little care, they'll be part of your home for weeks, sometimes months, and often much longer than that.
The Basics
Every arrangement is a little different, but here's what most of ours need to thrive in a Jacksonville home:
Light. Most of our arrangements, orchids especially, love bright indirect light. Think a spot near a window where the sun doesn't hit the leaves directly. Direct afternoon sun in a Jacksonville summer will scorch them fast.
Water. This is where most people go wrong, and it's almost always too much rather than too little. Check the soil before you water. If it still feels moist, wait a few more days. Overwatering is the number one thing that shortens a plant's life.
Humidity. Jacksonville actually works in your favor here. Our natural humidity is close to what a lot of these plants would experience in the wild, so you don't need to do much extra.
Drainage. If your arrangement is in a container without a drainage hole, be extra careful with water. Excess moisture sitting at the bottom is one of the fastest ways to lose a plant.
The Best Part: Second Life
Here's what makes an Anita's arrangement different from anything you'd get somewhere else. When your arrangement has had its moment, whether that's on your dining table for a dinner party or as a gift on someone's counter, it doesn't have to be over.
Many of our plants can be repotted into something new, moved outside once the season is right, or simply kept going as a houseplant for years. Your arrangement isn't the end of something. It's the beginning of a whole second life in your home or garden.
We'll be walking through exactly which plants can go outside and when in future issues, so keep an eye out.
What's Coming
This is just the start. In the blogs ahead, we'll get specific: orchid myths we hear all the time (yes, we're addressing the ice cube thing), which plants are ready to move outdoors as the seasons shift, and how to think about container fills for your own pots at home.
One Small Invitation
If you're not already part of Anita's Garden Club, we'd love to have you. Members get $20 off their first purchase, plus first access to seasonal tips and shop updates like this one. It's free to join, no pressure, just a nice way to stay close to what we're doing here. Sign up here.
And of course, if you're ever near Avondale, swing by and say hello. We're always happy to help you figure out what your particular plant needs, in person.
Anita's Garden Shop, Avondale, Jacksonville. Call us at (904) 388-2060 or stop in anytime.