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.

Express your feelings through flowers. There are widely accepted meanings attached to certain flowers. For example, when a man gives a woman a bouquet of red roses, he may mean that he wants to start a romantic relationship with her. White roses are often used in funerals to express condolences. Peach-colored ones express the blooming of a girl into womanhood, thus they are often used to decorate for debuts or coming out parties. Flowers can convey your sincerest congratulations too.

The growing popularity of flowers as conduits of emotions and messages has aided the boom in the flower growing and selling business. Flower shops are almost everywhere, offering convenience with their pre-arranged bouquets. Others bank on their specializations, whether they are experts on wedding flower arrangements, themed parties, or just your plain everyday use for decorating your home. Still other flower shops occupy niche markets with their ability to accommodate bulk orders and provide exotic flowers.

With the availability of various kinds of flowers in flower shops, many customers are finding more freedom to express themselves in a variety of unique ways. Florists have become consultants, too, for the confused and for those who are uninitiated in the world of flowers. Mixing and matching flowers and combining certain colors with certain species of blooms and leaves have become an art. Many florists compete in prestigious contests to showcase their expertise.

Florists follow a certain code of conduct, and their businesses are regulated through florist associations. They also use this network to demand lower prices from their suppliers or flower growers. Most flowers are shipped from overseas farms, and through these organizations, the florists can control prices. Flowers work in almost any occasion. If in doubt about the mix of blooms or the color, ask your florists. Whether through research or experience, your florist is an expert when it comes to flowers.

There are different types of florists, and your local retail shop may not be right for a big event. They may make beautiful arrangements, but for any event that needs more than six flower arrangements, consider a special event florist. This type of florist is one that does large events exclusively. Some will even limit themselves to resort parties or weddings only. They generally do not have a retail shop where you can walk in and buy an arrangement or gift.

Primarily because of space. You will usually find this type of florist in a warehouse or other large building. At first the advantage is not apparent, but let’s say you need fifty arrangements. A large space means that containers can be prepared and laid out ahead of time. As the time for your event approaches, the florists can come in and make the arrangements quickly. The chances that they will deliver on time increases greatly.

A specialty florist, however, is used to handling large volumes of flowers. They probably have more than enough cooler space and can get your flowers in optimum conditions immediately. This means they’ll be fresher and last longer for your guests to enjoy. Delivery is a challenge for a big order. Flowers can be fragile. Getting them safely to their destination takes specialized equipment and knowledge. Instead of cramming the arrangements into a small delivery van designed for just a few, specialty florists have systems and equipment designed to handle this kind of job.

One more possible advantage to hiring this kind of florist is that they may rent containers and other decorative items. Small shops may have some rentals, but limited space means limited selection. Your special event florist may also have things like pillars and mirrors you can rent. Renting these things rather than buying them can save you a lot of money. Check your local business directory and ask around. If you have bridal fairs in your area, it is worth checking them out. It’s a good place to find special event florists, even if you are not planning a wedding. Just make sure you ask if they do only weddings. Good luck with your party!