8 Common Concepts About Fresh Flowers and Plants; Yes or No?

8 Common Concepts about Fresh Flowers and Plants

Flowers have been appreciated and loved for their beauty and fragrance for centuries. Their spellbinding appearance makes them a perfect centerpiece for a variety of occasions. They are thought to not only boost the visual appeal of a space but also spread positivity and happiness. They are one of the most popular and cheap gifting option on occasions like birthdays, weddings, parties, and celebrations. When something is as popular and commonly used as flowers, there's bound to be stories surrounding around it. When you buy flowers or a flowering plant you get a lot of advice from everyone regarding how to care for them and what you can do with them. Now, most of the things you hear are probably for your and your plant's benefit, but more often than not, the advice can also be misleading and even harmful. Let's take a look at some common myths about fresh flowers and plant and find out if they're correct or not.

1) Plants Help to Maintain Clean Air – Yes

Now, it's common knowledge how plants purify the atmosphere by absorbing harmful carbon dioxide and emitting life-sustaining oxygen. Plants do the opposite of what humans do. Humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide and plants absorb carbon dioxide, water, and light to make food for themselves through the process called photosynthesis. In addition to this, a 1989 study by NASA found how plants can also absorb cancer-causing volatile organic compounds like benzene and formaldehyde.

2) Taking a Rose’s Outer Petals Will Damage it- No

One common misconception about rose flower is that removing the outer petals or guard petals will damage the rose. Guard petals are actually there to protect the inner petals of the flower and maintain its beauty. Flowers are meant to get a few bruises and bumps during transit. It's the outer petals that bear the brunt and start to look damaged. Taking them out will not affect the health of your flower and will instead make it look good as new. 

3) A Cactus Should Not Be Watered - No

Because cacti are usually found in dry environments with little to no water in sight, you sometimes may hear someone say that a cactus plant doesn't require water. However, it's not true at all. It's true that cacti have water-storing abilities in their stems and leaves, they still require water to store. Under-watering will cause your cactus to shrivel. 

4) Tulips Bulbs can be Used as Food - Yes

Tulip flowers are known for their variety of colors and stunning beauty. But a little-known fact that many people are unaware of is that tulip bulbs can also be eaten. Yes, it may sound weird but it's true. The practice of eating tulips was born out of Dutch pragmatism. The Netherlands suffered a great famine in the freezing winter of 1944-1945, the last year of World War II. There was no food available to eat, so the people ate tulips.

5) Orchids Require Regular Maintenance – No

Their popularity and unbelievable beauty may make them look very exotic and high-maintenance, but the truth is that orchids are actually relatively easy to care for. Orchid neither require a lot of sunlight or water and even a novice can effectively care for them. You can buy orchid plants from a physical or online flower shop near you. They will stay fresh for about a month with very little maintenance. 

6) Cut the Flowers at a 45-Degree Angle – Yes

Cutting the flower stem at a 45-degree angle is actually an effective trick to increase the life of your flowers. The cut expands the surface area which allows the flower to absorb more water and thrive. 

7) Color of Hydrangea Depends upon the Acidity of the Soil –Yes

It's true that the pH level of the soil determines the color of Hydrangeas. Acidic soil with a pH of lower than 6.0 creates blue hydrangeas. Similarly, Alkaline soil yields pink/red, and soil with a pH of around 7 produces purple Hydrangea. 

8) Indoor Plants Help to Relieve Pain, Stress and Anxiety - Yes 

According to a study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, Indoor plants are a great way to improve mental health and relieve stress. They do so by not only purifying the air around them but by also their many molecular-level processes. Interacting with plants on a regular basis is proven to be good for your mental health. For this reason, flowers are the most popular get well soon gift anywhere in the world.