ReadOns.com | Discover New Blogs Daily

Avoid these 11 mistakes when gifting flowers

Gifting flowers is a stellar way of expressing love, care, affection, and gratitude. One can also buy flowers to spice up the home during a special occasion. Thanks to the versatility of flowers, the country’s blooms industry is now valued at $5 billion! But people often make mistakes when gifting someone flowers, leading to unnecessary trouble. Read on to find out what these errors are and how to avoid them.

Not knowing what each flower represents
Each flower has hidden symbolism. Knowing these meanings can help one get the right message across and save them from potential embarrassment. Here is a short, handy guide to help one understand what each flower represents:

Red rose : Beauty, romance, and love
Dark Crimson rose : Mourning
White rose : Innocence and purity
Red tulips : True love
Purple tulips : Royalty
Daffodils : New beginnings, rebirth, unrequited love, and eternal life (a single daffodil represents misfortune, so always pick a bunch!)
Lilacs : Confidence and youthful innocence
Violet : Virtue, modesty, and faithfulness
Baby’s breath : Innocence and pureness of heart
Sunflower : Cheerfulness, loyalty, and adoration
Lily : Beauty, pride, humility, and wealth
Orchid : Luxury, beauty, love, strength, and femininity
Daisy : Beauty, purity, and innocence

Ignoring their arrangement
How the flowers are arranged in a bouquet can affect the essence of the gift. A substandard arrangement could ruin the emotion. So, pay close attention to how the bouquet is arranged and packed. Avoid gifting flowers in plastic wraps, as this can harm the environment. Opt for thick wrapping paper, tissue paper, or gift paper for an enclosed arrangement.

Not considering the occasion
In addition to knowing the meaning behind certain flowers, it is essential to consider the occasion for gifting. For instance, sending a bouquet of red roses to a funeral could be disrespectful. As a general rule of thumb, opt for muted blooms for morose occasions (white, yellow, or blue generally work). For birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations, pick brighter, happier flowers. A little research on the topic can help one find the right flowers, colors, and arrangements for any event!

Opting for a generic bouquet
Buying a generic bouquet is convenient, but it might stop one from making a positive impression. So, try to find out what the other person likes and customize the bouquet based on their preferences. Doing so can be a major value-add!

Sending the flowers to the wrong address
One of the most common mistakes people make when ordering flowers is giving a wrong or incomplete address. This error can lead to a lot of frustration, delays, or even missed deliveries. So, pay attention when preparing the address and double-check it while placing the order. It may also be a good idea to check the receiver’s availability beforehand.

Overlooking the filler flowers
When choosing or making a floral arrangement, people often ignore the fillers. Sure, the focus flower is significant, but one must also pay attention to the color and texture of the filler flowers to give the bouquet a more cohesive appearance.

Forgetting to leave a message
While it may not feel like a colossal mistake, forgetting to add a message (or at least a name) can confuse the recipient. So, always leave a card with a personalized message to spell out the emotions behind the flowers and make the gift more special.

Rushing to order at the last minute
Several florists offer same-day delivery. While availing of this service may be okay when running extremely short on time, one should not make it a habit. Last-minute deliveries are often fraught with errors like sending the wrong arrangements and delivering to the incorrect location. So, avoid the rush by placing the order well in advance. If remembering dates is a problem, set a reminder on the phone, add an event to the calendar, or pen down the occasion on a sticky note and hang it on the desk.

Giving the same flowers more than once
Receiving the same floral arrangement time and time again is boring. Unless a person is well aware of the receiver’s choices, they should opt for or create unique arrangements each time. Doing so can go a long way in adding a personal touch to the gift.

Going for cheaper options
Of course, sticking to one’s budget is important when gifting anything. But this does not mean opting for the cheapest flowers at the store. Instead, individuals should look for fresh, pretty flowers that fit well within the budget. To save more and make a heartfelt present, one can take on the task of arranging the flowers themselves. Set the arrangement in a vase or glass bottle, and have fun with the project. It is bound to make the gift feel a whole lot special!

Tacking on a complimentary gift
When ordering online, avoid adding complimentary gifts that do not make sense because it could taint the sentimentality of the gesture! If flowers do not feel like enough, one should take some time to think about a gift that the receiver will genuinely appreciate. For instance, a box of chocolates or a cake could be good options to send alongside a bouquet for an anniversary or a birthday.

Popular Reads

11 useful tips for anxiety management

Nearly 84% of participants in a particular mental health survey were said to have some form of anxiety. The severity of symptoms did vary from person to person, but the fact remains that we live in a world where almost everything is a potential trigger for anxiety. And living in denial about having a psychological trigger only worsens the problem. Luckily, it is possible to manage anxiety by following the suggestions recommended by experts. Identify the triggers Anxiety is mainly triggered due to an event or episode where one finds themselves in a difficult position. It could be something that puts a person out of their comfort zone. Doctors advise people to identify these triggers and avoid them. Any comment, action, or situation that did not work out in favor triggers anxiety. So, make a list of such events and instances and ignore them the next time something happens related to that event. At the same time, try to remain positive as it can help strengthen the mind to manage anxiety better. Keep busy Distraction is one of the simplest ways to prevent a panic or anxiety attack. You can perform simple chores or indulge in a favorite task to stay physically and mentally occupied for a few hours. When the mind is occupied, there is hardly any scope for negative thoughts to trigger unnecessary overthinking. Some creative activities to boost cognitive performance include taking a walk, painting, drawing, listening to music, meditating, praying, and reading. You can opt for any of these to stay busy. Try mindfulness techniques Deep breathing and mindfulness techniques have helped thousands overcome their fear or anxiety time and again. Focused deep breathing is a method where one inhales for four counts and exhales for the same duration; this is practiced for minutes. It helps lower heart rate, which, in turn, calms the mind and body.

Atrial fibrillation – Causes, symptoms, and management tips

The human heart is susceptible to several health complications, including atrial fibrillation (AFib). The condition is the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia, which is a term describing when the heart beats unusually slowly, fast, or irregularly. AFib is estimated to affect between 2.7 million to 6.1 million individuals in the country. An individual with the complication experiences irregular beating in the heart’s upper chambers, affecting blood flow, leading to health complications. Causes Irregularities in the structure of the heart are the most common cause of atrial fibrillation. Sometimes people may develop the condition without any known heart damage or problems. Risk factors like age may also contribute to the development of atrial fibrillation. Other potential causes of the phenomenon include a heart attack, sick sinus syndrome – issues with the heart’s natural pacemaker, coronary artery disease, congenital heart defect – A heart defect that an individual might be born with, high blood pressure, lung diseases, heart valve problems, use of stimulants, including certain prescriptions and caffeine, physical stress caused due to pneumonia, other illnesses, and also surgery, sleep apnea, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), metabolic imbalances, viral infections, and complications due to earlier heart surgery. Symptoms A person who develops atrial fibrillation may not notice symptoms, and the condition is detected only after a physical examination. But some people experience signs and symptoms before a diagnosis. A few common symptoms of AFib include being unable to exercise to one’s full potential, feelings of weakness, throbbing pain in the chest, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations and sensations of a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat, and feeling extremely fatigued. Therefore, the symptoms of atrial fibrillation differ from one person to the other. Occasional symptoms (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) Here, a person may experience something that lasts from a few minutes to a couple of hours.

Macular degeneration – Types, causes, and remedies

Macular degeneration is a condition that affects a person’s vision and develops as people age. This progressive eye disorder involves the deterioration of the macula, which is a part of the eye’s retina. It is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults and may develop in one or both eyes. This condition is of two main types – dry and wet. Read further to learn about the disorder, its causes, and its types. Dry macular degeneration People are more likely to have dry macular degeneration than wet form. It is also less severe and develops when tiny yellow protein deposits under the macula. These deposits dry and thin the macula, causing gradual central vision loss while the peripheral vision remains intact. In the advanced stages, the dry form can progress to the wet form. People with dry macular degeneration need to test their eyes daily at home using an Amsler grid. One must consult a health expert immediately if any vision changes are observed. Wet macular degeneration In this condition, the blood vessels grow beneath the retina and macula and cause blood and fluid to leak into the retina. This build-up of fluid results in scarring, leading to permanent loss of central vision. The wet form can cause a sudden change in eyesight resulting in a severe loss of centralized vision when left untreated. People with wet macular degeneration may require repeated treatments. Symptoms Macular degeneration may not cause any symptoms during the early stages. However, as the condition progresses, it can cause distortion and blurry vision. It can result in difficulty reading, driving, and identifying colors. Macular degeneration occurs mainly in people aged over 50. Blurred vision Dark, blurry areas appear in the center of the vision, leading to increased blurriness in reading printed words. Visual distortion The person may experience visual distortions, such as straight lines that look wavy or crooked, and objects may appear distorted.