WMBCTV: Could flowers still be an option for affordable holiday gift giving?

The prices of cut flowers and indoor plants have surged 9.4% over the past year and are expected to stay on the rise, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But with holiday gift giving around the corner, could flowers still be an option for affordable gift giving?

The Owner of Bloombox Flowers, Angelica Garcia, has been in the flower industry for about 7 years and she says she can remember when a dozen roses used to cost about $100. The current price, she says, lies at around $150.

“Even down to like the containers that the flowers come in. If we get our wholesale versus our local flowers, they’ve gone up in price significantly so then that impacts our buying them, right,” Angelica said.

Angelica also says there are lower-priced alternatives to high-priced flowers. 

“We price per stem so it’s really depending on your budget and how much you want to spend. You can spend anywhere from $25 dollars to however much you want. We also offer dried florals which are a little cheaper than our fresh flowers,” she said. “And we also have merchandise at the store that you can purchase that’s floral themed and stuff.”

Another way to get more for your money is to make your flowers last longer. 

“Preserving flowers is like an art in itself but it's always best to preserve your flowers when they’re fresh so you might want to enjoy them while they’re fresh but it’s always best to preserve them while they’re fresh,” Angelica said. “Put them in a dark room. Some flowers are best hung upside down. It really just depends on the flower.”

If you did want to make those fresh flowers last longer, Angelica explains what you can do.

“Give them a cut every 2 to 3 days, always have fresh water with them, keep them away from vents and windows with too much sunlight,” she said.

For those who are interested in ordering flowers for the holiday season, Angelica suggests to order about a week ahead.

“Definitely ordering is always encouraged for any season, any holiday,” she said.