Giving artificial flowers: ideas for every occasion

Giving flowers is one of the oldest gestures there is, and in Germany a very lively one: households spend around 8.6 billion euros a year on flowers and plants, a good third of it on cut flowers. Per head, that comes to about 108 euros a year. Prices peak in February and May, in other words around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

Artificial flowers are a variant that lends itself above all when the gift is meant to stay. This article shows which occasions suit them and what to consider in choice and arrangement.

When a lasting flower gift fits

A fresh bouquet lives from its transience. That is exactly what makes it right for many occasions. Artificial flowers are not a substitute but an alternative with a different character. They fit particularly well when:

• the person has little time or no green thumb,
• the gift is going somewhere dark where real plants die,
• there is a pollen allergy in the household,
• a cat lives in the household (more on this below),
• the decoration should stand for longer than a few days,
• you are giving something meant to recall a particular day.

The point many people overlook when giving flowers

If you give a bouquet to a household with a cat, you should know what is in it. Lilies cause acute kidney failure in cats even in the tiniest amounts, and it does not even take the flower: the pollen is enough. It sticks to the fur, and the cat ingests it while grooming. Even the vase water is toxic. Symptoms often only show one to three days later, and there is no specific antidote. Tulips and daffodils are on the list too.

This is not a sales argument, simply something worth knowing before you bring a bouquet. If you are unsure, ask briefly or choose a version without bulb flowers.

Occasions at a glance

Birthday

A medium-sized arrangement of twelve to fifteen stems looks complete without being overwhelming. Colours that suit the recipient’s interior land better than especially striking ones.

Moving in or a new home

Here a potted plant is often more practical than a bouquet because it needs no vase. It can be set down immediately, even with boxes still in the way.

Wedding and anniversary

Giving an arrangement in the colours of the celebration hands the couple something that recalls the day and can stay. It is worth agreeing it with the couple so it suits their home.

Office and business occasions

For an opening or a company anniversary, care-free plants are practical, because in a business rarely does anyone feel permanently responsible. A watering schedule usually holds out until the second week of the holidays.

Bereavement: caution is called for here

For the cemetery: check the regulations first. Many cemetery regulations in Germany explicitly prohibit plastic in grave decorations, others allow it only to a limited extent. The reasons given are environmental and disposal-related: plastic weathers, is hard to recycle and does not belong in the compost where cemetery waste usually ends up. What is permitted is set out in each cemetery’s regulations and differs considerably from place to place; if in doubt, a call to the cemetery administration settles it in two minutes.

For a remembrance corner at home, on the other hand, artificial flowers are often suitable, precisely because they do not need replacing regularly. And for a condolence visit, the same applies as always: if in doubt, ask the family.

Colours and their usual meaning

These associations are convention, not a fixed rule. When in doubt, the recipient’s taste decides.

• Red: affection and love.
• Pink: appreciation, gratitude, friendship.
• White and cream: restrained and festive, suits weddings and mourning alike.
• Yellow and orange: joy and attention, good for get-well wishes.
• Violet: looks refined and somewhat reserved.

Five notes on arranging

• Work in greenery. Eucalyptus or fern between the blooms makes an arrangement look markedly more natural.
• Mind the vessel. A plain, well-chosen vase contributes a great deal to the overall impression. Ceramic and stoneware look more natural than clear glass: in a transparent vase without water, artificial flowers give themselves away immediately.
• Do not tie too loosely. A thin-looking bouquet loses its effect. Better a few stems more.
• Vary the heights. Stems cut to the same length look artificial.
• Add a card. A handwritten sentence works harder on any gift than the blooms themselves.

Be open about it

One point Bloomli considers important: give artificial flowers as what they are. Passing them off as fresh flowers risks exactly the moment when the gesture tips over. As a deliberate choice for something lasting, on the other hand, they are received well, especially if you mention the reason: no pollen, no watering, and they stay as a reminder of the day.

Matching range

Ready-tied bouquets can be found under Bouquets, single stems for tying yourself under Single stems. As a gift without a vase, potted plants work well; the matching vessel is under Vases & decor.