First, remove the flowers from the packaging, hold the stems underwater, and cut the stem at a 45-degree angle using a sharp knife. Cutting the flower stem at this angle allows the stem to have a greater surface area for water consumption. Do not use scissors to cut the stems and do not crush the stems either; this will damage the tips and block the flower’s water intake.

Next, prepare the vase and the water. Kill any bacteria or algae that formed in the vase by cleaning the inside with bleach. If your florist does not include preservatives with the flower delivery, fill the vase with lukewarm water and add a floral preservative. You can either buy preservatives from your florist or make on your own. To make your own preservatives, mix lemon with a very small amount of bleach, or a teaspoon of sugar with a few drops of bleach. Take note that using homemade concoctions might not be as effective as professional cut flower food because they don’t contain the complex mixture of preservatives and nutrients flowers need to survive.

Once you’re satisfied with your floral arrangement, keep the vase in a cool spot away from direct sunlight to avoid rapid respiration. Respiration is the process wherein living organisms age. It is helpful to note that flowers generally have a higher respiration rate than most agricultural crop. The lower the temperature of the room they are placed in, the longer the flowers will last. However, if the flowers are subjected to temperatures below four degrees, their internal cells can get easily damaged and dry out the flowers. If you want your bouquet to decorate an air-conditioned room, make sure the temperature is not too cold.

Finally, take care of your flowers every day and remove wilted flowers so they do not contaminate the rest. It is recommended that you change the water daily but if you are too busy to do so, replacing the water every two or three days is fine. Make sure you add the preservative each time you change the water. You can also re-cut the stem for improved water absorption.

The popularity of flowers is continuing to grow and there’s no end in sight. You can turn your backyard nursery into profitable plants in no time. Seriously, it’s really quite easy. Soon you can be making really good money, all from fresh cut flowers. Flower growers make good money. How much? On average, flower growers are making $20 to $30 an hour. You can easily make several hundred dollars in no time. And there are a lot of potential sales out there. Just think about where you see flowers: parks, backyards, shopping centers, offices, restaurants, hospitals and many, many more places. These flowers have to come from somewhere.

When starting out, choose a few flowers. Start small and let your business grow naturally. Here are a few popular fresh cut flowers: Ageratum – Two cultivars, “Blue Horizon” and “Florist’s White,” are particularly popular for market growers. Consolida Ambigua is a productive plant in your garden, and is widely used by florists. Helianthus Annuus is also known as a “sunflower,” and continues to be popular. Achillea can produce hundreds of flowers over a couple years. Gypsophilia Paniculata is a widely-used filler in floral arrangements.

So what’s going to make you a top seller? Having really healthy plants. Take good care of your plants to see that they grow up looking beautiful and healthy. Only use organic materials, such as organic fertilizers. These help the plants grow at a steady and less-stressed rate than chemical fertilizers. Be sure to add some mulch to your garden to avoid weeds. Also, stop wind damage by planting tall shrubs to provide a windbreak. And don’t forget about those pesky pests. Use insecticidal soaps, Neem or “sticky traps” to help stop this treat. Take care of your soil, and you’ll see your plants turn out the way you want them to.

Also, grow what people want! Listen to your customers. If you can grow what people want, then they’ll continually turn to you for their flower-growing needs. Growing healthy plants and the plants that people want will make you the go-to flower grower in your town. So where can you sell your profitable plants? Farmers’ markets – These continue to be popular events that draw big crowds eager to find the top local growers. Set up a stand or booth and get selling. Mail-order sales – Place an ad in the classifieds or in gardening catalogs. Keep running the ad, and soon people will recognize it, and you’ll be the one they call. Fundraisers – People are more than willing to spend a little money if they know part of it is going to a good cause. Sell your flowers at a fundraiser, and donate some of the profits to a local charity or other good cause. It makes your flower-growing business look good, while also putting some money in your pocket.