Lessons; professional knowledge

Advice

Flowers in hospital

People and flowers belong together. It is a matter of nature. They are a part of the biological system on earth. People cannot live without  flowers and plants. They enrich our daily life and makes it more pleasant. The colors and scents of flowers makes people happy. Ill people become often sooner better if their surrounding is pleasant. Flowers and plants belong to it. Gardening and flower arranging are most important hobbies for many people. So, let us make ill people happy by sending them flowers, a nice bouquet, a flower arrangement or a plant. We never can do enough to collect the beauty of nature, colors, and design around us. People and flowers love each other and belong together.

Of course it is to advise to think on a few things by creating a bouquet or arrangement for an ill person. Think on the fact that too strong scents or flowers who can cause allergy can trouble an ill person. On the intensive care department, on a maternity clinic, or people who have had an serious surgery  better not have the risk of extra bacteria in their surroundings. This can happen if the water is not clean, or the soil of plants. Also some species who easy can moult and spread very small dry pieces in the air, for  example Asparagus setaceus. Bacteria make part of our life and in fact we do not have to be more worried than for the animals at home, or the aquarium, or just when we shake ones hand. We do not want to be without flowers and because of this we give some suggestions for a good use in the hospital.

Some tips for the florist:

  • Ask the customer for what department the flowers are. For example do not send strong scented flowers to an intensive care.
  • Create a bouquet or flower arrangement without potential allergic species.
  • Choose strong flowers in a good combination.
  • Clean the stems and remove too much of the leaves.
  • Do not use any materials which moult and after that is going to float.
  • Do not use strong scenting flowers and for sure not too many of them.
  • Do not use for special departments like intensive care, earth or flowers who cause allergic reaction or are too strong scented.
  • Ask by your local hospital the rules for use of flowers and plants.
  • Put Chrysal in the water to keep it clear.

A few tips for care and handling in the hospital:

  • Use clean vases. Clean them after using directly and let them dry with top side down.
  • Use clean water and add the proper amount of cut flower food.
  • Cut of the stems before you put the flowers in the water.
  • Eventually clean the vase again if the flowers are very strong. Refill it with clean water and a preservative.
  • Use stable vases.
  • Prevent flowers from the sun and draught.
  • Remove old flowers from a bouquet.
  • Top up the vase every day.

Read more about allergy   
Read more about care and handling flowers

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Last update of this page 23.05.2004