Janda Florist Owner Shares Valentine Flowers Tips

Flowers are a Valentine's Day staple, and Joann Janda-Schmidt, owner of , has advice for selecting and maintaining the perfect ones for your sweetheart.

"Roses are obviously the mainstay," Janda-Schmidt said. "Any shape, size, color would be great."

Although some people are concerned about the message a specific color of roses may convey such as yellow implying friendship, she encourages customers to not let that get in the way of picking one they know the recipient will appreciate.

"It all depends on what book you read," Janda-Schmidt said. "They all say different things."

But if you're still not convinced, try getting a multi-colored bouquet.

"Human beings love color," she said. "It makes them happy."

For those looking for something other than the traditional roses, Janda-Schmidt suggests gerber daisies, orchids, Fuji chrysanthemums, pin cushion protea and bird of paradise.

"It's like a pair of shoes," Janda-Schmidt said. "Every flower fits people differently. We're known for our variety."

And instead of selecting a pre-made floral arrangement, she encourages people to create their own.

"We love when that happens," she said. "[Customers] get a chance to smell and feel the flowers."

To care for the bouquet, Janda-Schmidt instructs customers to trim the flower stems, change the water in the vase every two to three days and keep it in a cool area.

"[The flowers] will be good for 10 days to up to two weeks," she said. Potted flowers generally last four times longer. 

Another good tip, she said, is to purchase the flowers when they are a bit premature so the recipient can watch them bloom.

Janda Florist has been in business for 35 years, the last 19 of which were in Cockeysville. Previously, the store was based in Baltimore.