Growing flower center peices (x post from May 2013)

lalans

HI,

I wasn't planing on having many flowers at my wedding, but instead using lots of lanterns (Link from pinterest...I have lots of the small cream ones and a few other sized/shapes also in cream that go well together http://pinterest.com/pin/38913984250170290/ ) 

My FMIL wants to grow flowers for centerpieces that could also be used for favors.  i don't hate the idea enough to say no.  So my question is, what type of flowers would be good to suggest to her?  Color wise, the wedding is going to be dark blue and yellow, so I'm thinking yellow flowers in blue pots.  The wedding is late May.  My favorite pictures so far are of sunflowers, mums, daisies, and Dahlias.  Does anyone have experience growing those/are they easy to do in pots?  I know Mums are fall flowers...would this be a problem if she was growing them inside/can she "trick" them into flowering in the spring?  Any other ideas for types of flowers that could work in this way, or does anyone have pictures of flowers they did as centerpieces?  My only strong "no" opinion would sadly be the typical spring flowers...crocuses and daffodils...I just don't like either of those

Thanks!

Maggie0829

Does your FMIL have a lot of gardening experience?  If not, then I would just suggest buying potted plants and then transferring them to blue pots for you wedding.

Growing plants is not the easiest thing and the weather really determines when the flowers will bloom.

lalans

I htink she is planning on growing them inside from seed, so the weather shouldn't be an issue at least.  I think the whole point of her doing it is growing them so the buying and transfering thing wouldn't work.

Maggie0829

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_flowers_growing-flower-center-peices-x-post-from-may-2013?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:28Discussion:28c22a7d-2eb5-4dfa-9f8c-2d8981d6ba4bPost:a88d4a35-d2e2-4c1f-a2f7-7b6e12fc3f6e">Re: Growing flower center peices (x post from May 2013)</a>:
[QUOTE]I htink she is planning on growing them inside from seed, so the weather shouldn't be an issue at least.  I think the whole point of her doing it is growing them so the buying and transfering thing wouldn't work.
Posted by lalans[/QUOTE]

Ok, but you never answered my original question...does she have a lot of experience doing this type of thing?  If she doesn't I hope she plans on growing  a crapload more then what is needed just in case some plants don't make it.

Sue-n-Kevin

It's tricky when it's the future MIL, because you don't want to imply she won't be successful, but growing flowers from seeds is really tough to do well.........dong it as a centerpiece or favor adds a lot of pressure.

I have had a garden for years, I've planted tons of various flowers and to this day, I have very poor luck getting flowers from seeds. I have ample window space, water according to directions, and they just don't do well. I have a very green thumb in every other way.

If it were me, I'd probably decline. If you like yellow flowers, look at Costco or Sam's Club yellow roses........you can get 100 for about $80, use them for centerpieces then let guests take them home. White or yellow daisies are probably cheaper.

I went to a baby shower recently and the favors were pre-prepared small clay pots with several seeds in them to grow flowers. Nice favor. I brought 3 home (other people didn't want them) and they did NOT grow. It's really iffy to do this, and if you agree to do it with her have a back up plan.

Good luck.

lalans

Thanks for the feedback I know its tough, which is why I would never want to do it...plus I think its a bit crazy since she will have to bring all the flowers on a 3 hour drive in their car from where they live to where we live.  I do have all the lanterns for centerpeices/decoration that I had already planned on...my company imported them and I got to take the ones that were outside of our complience rules.  So basically, if the flowers don't work out I won't really mind, since I wasn't planning on having them anyway.  

That all said, and despite the issues...any other suggestions for what kind of flowers to suggest to her?

flower_diva

don't do it......all of the flowers you mentioned would take more time than it is worth.  Think more of buying annuals and planting up a low patio container with yellow pansies/petunias marigolds etc.  I appreciate the thought that your family wants to do this for you. I just think it is an unrealistic idea ,especially in May.   Unless you use the spring flowers. Yellow tulips,crocus,white hyacinth,daffodils.....would be lovely,plus the bulbs could be planted outside in a garden afterwards.  JMO

TheSlowskys

You would need a lot of bulbs for tulips since you only get one flower per bulb. They also aren't very hardy and I'd be worried about them surviving the drive. What MIL is offering is nice but from a cost pov I think buying plants is cheaper. If you already have a white rhodedendron bush they are ubiquitous where I'm from that would be an easy white flower although they are also sort of delicate. I have used them for a party where I needed 6 cos but I still can't imagine counting on them for a wedding.

MrsKathyC

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_flowers_growing-flower-center-peices-x-post-from-may-2013?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:28Discussion:28c22a7d-2eb5-4dfa-9f8c-2d8981d6ba4bPost:8e8b2f40-178d-4fd7-af9b-603dea0b6bd5">Re: Growing flower center peices (x post from May 2013)</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for the feedback :) I know its tough, which is why I would never want to do it...plus I think its a bit crazy since she will have to bring all the flowers on a 3 hour drive in their car from where they live to where we live.  I do have all the lanterns for centerpeices/decoration that I had already planned on...my company imported them and I got to take the ones that were outside of our complience rules.  So basically, if the flowers don't work out I won't really mind, since I wasn't planning on having them anyway.   That all said, and despite the issues...any other suggestions for what kind of flowers to suggest to her?
Posted by lalans[/QUOTE]

Dandelions are the only yellow flower that I can think of that would be ready by May, but ewwww.

JudyW7

Maybe suggest to your FMIL that you all could get the favors that are actually "plantable paper" http://weddingshop.theknot.com/plantable-card-favors.aspx <--- There's a link for them in The Knot shop, but I'm sure you could get them cheaper on other websites if you wanted. They come in yellow.

If you didn't want to just give out the cards, you could buy cute little blue or yellow flower pots and put the cards inside of the pots to give as favors. Hope I could help! Good luck!