Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Budget Flower Tip

I love filling my home with flowers and live plants.  Fresh flowers always seem to put me in a good mood.  Entertaining?  Fresh flowers will also make your guests feel welcome.  

But flowers can be expensive.  My local grocery store occasionally has a good deal on discounted flowers; if you don't mind wilted petals or leaves.

So here's my tip to stay on budget...

Annuals make excellent cut flowers!  You can fill a vase with just a few stems.

A pint-sized container is usually under $2 at Home Depot.  That's a lot cheaper than a $12.50 bouquet at Whole Foods. 

It's the same as cutting flowers from your garden.

Garden centers are filled with beautiful flowers.  I chose Torenia because of its trumpet-shaped blooms.

I simply cut the stems above the soil, then placed them in warm water.

*They're easy to propagate too.

Here's a few arrangements.

Yellow flowers are my favorite, although Torenia is available in many colors.


Mums were on sale for .98 this weekend at Home Depot.  I bet they would also be pretty displayed this time of year.




I hope this post inspires you to go out and buy some flowers(annuals) this week!



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49 comments:

  1. Hmmmm, never thought about that. I should try that.
    Pretty

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  2. That's super smart B! I wonder if I'd be able to do it...

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  3. Simply Beautiful! I love fresh anything in my hose! But right now, our flowers are few, tis the season coming to an end. I think I will go outside right now and find me a pretty bouquet for my kitchen sink area! I think it will being me plenty of smiles today! Have a great Tuesday! **Dazee

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  4. Inspired me indeed! I'm such a purple thumb when it comes to large scale greenery inside my home, so I gave up (only on indoor planting). Never did I think to go small. And that Cracker Jack canister is adorable! Thanks for sharing constant inspiration.

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  5. Hi Brandi,
    What a great idea! I'm so going to try this.

    Susie

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  6. I can't believe I never thought of that! What a smart tip! I noticed you said WARM water too. I'll have to remember that next time. Our Home Depot has a little shelf by the outside registers where they sell wilted plants for .25-.50 cents. We've gotten a few things there and after a little water and sun, they came right back. :) And P.S. I'm not going to spend $12.50 at Whole Foods either. ;) That's WAY too much for a little bouquet that'll only last a few days. Your idea is MUCH better!

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  7. Great idea Brandi! I only buy tulips and daffodils, because they are less than $3.oo a bouquet! This is a great solution for the rest of the year! :)

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  8. Beautiful!! I also love fresh flowers but I agree, fresh flowers are so expensive.

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  9. Great tips, Brandi! Guess I better head off to Home Depot!

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  10. first, you know that i absolutely adore that cracker jack can. how cute is that brandi? i love your ideas. plant is very pretty. cheers!!

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  11. Very clever! I never would have thought to do this.

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  12. I love how you put that flower in the tea cup. That is just too cute. I'm always looking for ways to save money, so I really appreciate that tip... :)

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  13. Your flowers are beautiful! I have tried growing flowers in pots in my room, but they have to be pretty tough to survive my not-so-green thumb when it comes to indoor plants! At least my outdoor garden tends to fare a little better :)

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  14. Great tip Brandi, never thought of that! Other than my orchids, which luckily survive my black thumb, I need more flowers at home! Thanks!

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  15. What a wonderful idea. Will have to try this. TFS, Janice

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  16. What a great idea to appreciate what's readily (and inexpensively!) available, when we might have otherwise overlooked it. Beautiful pictures, too!

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  17. Fantastic idea! Our Lowes home improvement puts flowers on clearance all the time. I've never thought to buy them for fresh cut... genius!

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  18. I stay away from fresh flowers because they die and then I cry lol. Love the tips you are going to make me go and buy something for my office soon.

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  19. You know Brandi, you take some great photos. Very helpful info. I've noticed how pricy fresh flowers have become. I've started to add herbs, like basil and Rosemary as fillers to my arraignments.
    Have a great week,
    Sharon

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  20. You do have a green thumb~ and rescuer of plants. The plant in a way looks like basil and for a moment there, I was going to let my basil outside go to seed so I can get some of those beautiful flowers.
    HOPE your Labor Day was easy going and filled with family, friends and love.

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  21. That's some pretty floral arrangement; thanks for the tips.

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  22. Hi Brandi, such a grand idea and a cost saver. Your bouquets are lovely and I adore your Cracker Jack canister.
    Thanks for sharing sweet friend.
    hugs

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  23. I have never thought of cutting from potting plants. Great idea!

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  24. The flowers in all their simplicity are so pretty. Thanks for sharing.

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  25. Great idea! I hadn't thought of this!
    :)

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  26. Great tip and I love that Cracker Jack can. I just got home from Home Depot . . . today might be the last day of that sale (not sure) but I brought five of those mums home with me. Lots of flower for the money:)
    Keep Smiling,
    Connie :)

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  27. what a great and practical post. love it!

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  28. Great idea, Brandi! And your photos are just GORGEOUS!

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  29. OMG! what a fabulous way to display and use those yummy herbs!! Thank you for the idea.
    Hugs,
    Norma

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  30. Oh my goodness! I love these . . . they're so pretty!
    And your advice is great!
    When I need an 'budget' arrangement, I buy herbs and put them in small vases. Maybe I'll add a few garden flowers to the herbs for added color, or not. All the shades are green are quite pretty all by themselves.
    I, too, am a BIG fan of fresh cut flowers. I buy them at TJ's every week. A little treat for me :0)
    Thanks so much for sharing, sweet Brandi!
    I hope you're having a great week,
    Suzanne

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  31. Trader Joes has relatively cheap bouquets. But yours are prettier! Love the vintage-y crackerjack container.

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  32. I absolutely ADORE this idea you clever girl. Of course your choice in containers are pretty perfect too.

    I also wanted to thank you for your kind comments and friendship. You are a treasure. Have a blessed week!

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  33. What a great idea.

    The 99 Cent Stores in my area sell plants on and off. I check regularly and have purchased roses, daisies, mums, etc. They all thrive in the garden later.

    Plants at Trader Joe's are cheaper than similar plants at my nursery.

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  34. HI Brandi!
    I LOVE Wishbone flowers, I have fuchsia flowers growing in my garden "as we speak." Gee, I wish you lived closer I would love to provide you fresh flowers for your home. Funny thing is, I usually forget to bring in any for myself although I do bring in a bit of this and that for Marion, lol...Which reminds me, I should bring her in a nice big Sunflower:) Thanks for the inspiration, Brandi

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  35. What a great idea Brandi, why have I not thought of that before?!?!?!

    Like you, I like to have fresh flowers in my house, and they do can get expensive, your idea is so great. Thank you for the tip.

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  36. Hi Brandi,
    I love fresh flowers too. And you are right they can be expensive. I use to keep fresh flowers in my house. Not any more...just can't afford them. But this is a great idea. I actually have some annuals outside. Thanks for the tip. I was lucky enough to get some mums for 1.99 just the other day.

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  37. Oh my gosh, I've never thought of this option! I (and my wallet) thank you for the inspiration, my friend! Love the Cracker Jack vase too.

    xoxo

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  38. Awesome idea!!! Definitely using this one!

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  39. Great tip Brandi and I love your choice of containers.

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  40. Great idea! And the arrangement looks so very pretty

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  41. I love the cracker jack tin to display them and I agree sometimes the best things in life can be done on a budget :)

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  42. Great idea! I love the way you present it with the used cracker tin. ☺️

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  43. Hi Brandi,

    Couldn't agree more with you and such a great idea.
    I am often propagating hydrangeas and even roses you can grow from a cutting.
    Love the pretty arrangements you have done.
    Have a happy weekend
    Carolyn

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  44. Hello Brandi

    That's a very pretty little flower - I haven't heard of Torenia before - I'll look out for it at the garden centre.
    I love propagating plants - it's a great way to fill the garden with plants and much cheaper too!

    It's lovely to meet you at Friday Flowers - enjoy your weekend Brandi!

    I'm following you now.

    Hugs
    Shane

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  45. You are so clever! What a great idea.

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