We all love to get those fancy floral bouquets, but the prices can get pretty demanding.  Learn how to grow some of the most popular florist picks on your own.

Space in the Ground

You don’t need a huge backyard, or even a big flowerbed.  All you really need is decent dirt, sunshine, and water.  Most floral plants will also grow well in a container, but you’ll have to water more often.

It doesn’t even have to be a pretty patch of ground—not if you’re planning to stick the blooms in a vase on the kitchen table.  Pick a spot that has full sunlight and is accessible to the hose.

Lilies

Lilies are some of the most beautifully exotic flowers, and some of the most carefree.  Daylilies can survive with minimal care, and even the grand Stargazer lily can deal with neglect.  No need to drastically amend the soil or test the PH.  Just plant the bulbs about six inches below the surface, and be sure to water. 

Gladiolus

Glads are a florist’s favorite, with their elegant spikes of bloom.  They need to be staked for support.  Surveyor’s stakes can be had at a home improvement store for about fifty cents apiece, and work beautifully.  Have some leftover yarn?  Use that to tie the stalks. 

Glads need full sun and ample water—read: five minutes a day with a hose.  When the bottom blooms open, cut the stalk and be sure to use a tall vase.

Baby’s Breath

Baby’s Breath is an annual that needs about as much water as the gladiolus, so they’re ideal garden partners.  Seeds are available at any garden center, and can also be grown in a container on the back porch.  Just don’t let the pot dry out too much between watering.

Foliage

Ferns make lovely floral backdrops, and thrive in those neglected shady areas of your yard.  They can be purchased at any florist, and if you plant them in an out-of-the-way spot, no one will notice the cuttings you take to grace your bouquets.