Kato Cut Flowers .1-800-248- 5286 . Prices Standard FEDEX delivery! Info

SHIPPING AND DELIVERY

Shipping Questions

What are your shipping charges?

All flower packages are shipped with FedEx or UPS. Standard shipping charges for delivery Tuesday through Friday are included with the price of the bouquets. Saturday and Monday deliveries is $14.95 for all continental locations providing the address is within the FedEx Saturday delivery areas. If you would like a morning delivery, there will be an additional charge of $10.00, to ship Priority -1 Tuesday through Friday.

What days do you deliver?

Orders are delivered Monday through Saturday, unless the ship date or delivery date falls on a major holiday (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas).

What time will the bouquets arrive?

For all locations within the continental U.S., Standard Overnight shipments will usually be delivered between the normal business hours of 9:00AM to 5:00 PM on the requested delivery date.

Why can't you deliver on Sunday?

Since FedEx does not work on Sunday, we cannot have orders delivered. We always ship overnight and do not want the flowers to sit for 2 days in the gift box.

Can bouquets be delivered on the same day as ordered?

No. To ensure freshness all Kato Cut Flowers bouquets are shipped Standard Delivery with FedEx. In order to be received the next day, orders must be placed before 3 PM Eastern (Monday-Friday).

How are the bouquets protected when shipped?

Kato Cut Flowers ships every bouquet in a specially designed insulated gift box and Gel-Ice to protect the flowers from damage.

Where do you ship?

We ship orders to any physical address within the continental U.S.We cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes, APO and FPO addresses. We do deliver to Alaska and Hawaii for an added charge of $14.95. No Saturday deliveries to Hawaii presently. Saturday deliveries to Alaska are $29.95.

What happens if the recipient is not there to receive the flowers?

Kato Cut Flower shipments will be dropped off without obtaining a signature. Usually, the delivery driver will ring the bell, and if there is no answer, the box will be left somewhere safe at the delivery location. If there is no safe location, the box will be taken to the closest main shipping facility.

Can I change the date or address of my order's delivery?

If your order has not been delivered, or is not in the process of being delivered, we can change the delivery address. Please e-mail the new address information to sales@katocutflowers.com·

Is there any Sales Tax?

Sales tax (.08%) will be added to all shipments delivered within California.

Flower Care Instructions

Fresh Cut flowers make us feel good. They help us celebrate special events and communicate emotions by saying happy birthday, thank you, get well, I'm sorry and I love you.

Then there's the special joy of receiving flowers, whether it's a red rose from the local nursery or a fistful of dandelions from your daughter. Flowers, especially the intention behind them, mean so much. Unfortunately though, flowers wilt. Do you ever feel delighted to receive beautiful flowers only to feel a little depressed as you watch them fade? While you can't bring cut flowers back to life, here are some tips for keeping them looking fresh longer. Let's start with learning the best way to cut your own bouquets... What's the best way to cut flowers? Flowers keep best when cut with a sharp knife (un-serrated) and plunged immediately into water. Always make a cut on a slant, as it exposes more stem surface area. Also, remove leaves that will be under water in the arrangement, but do not remove thorns from roses, as it tends to shorten their life.

When is the best time to cut flowers?

Some people I know would say it's never a good time to cut flowers. They prefer to enjoy them alive and in the garden. But if you do like to cut them, the best time is early in the morning or late in the afternoon when it has cooled. Morning is when the plant is filled with stored food and the flowers are most fragrant.

Maturity also affects their keeping qualities. Cut roses, irises, and gladiolas in bud stage. After cutting, immediately put flowers in lukewarm, not cold, water. (See more tips below). Cut the stem on a slant and remove any leaves that will be submerged in the vase.

How does water get up the stem against gravity?

The flower stem is filled with cells that work like a bundle of soda straws. As long as the bottoms of the straws are submerged, you can draw water up through them. But pull the straws out of the glass while sucking on them and all you get is air.

Flowers do the same thing. Their demand for water is continuous, even when they're cut away from the mother plant. The difference is that cells in the stem have tiny screens that allow water to pass, but not air. So, when the flower stem is cut, a small air bubble forms at the end of the stem and is trapped. This acts like a barrier and prevents more water from getting up the stem -- even if you replace the stem in water.

Why did my red roses wilt so fast?

While it may have been caused by excessive warm or dry storage conditions, you can pretty much blame wilted roses on air bubbles and bacteria. To prevent air bubble blocks, make a new stem-end cut while holding it in water. A small droplet of water will cling to the stem end as you transfer the rose to the vase. This prevents the bubble from re-forming. As to how bacteria causes flowers to wilt, read on.

What’s in those little packets your online florist gives you?

When a flower is cut from the mother plant, it is separated from its life support system. Just like an astronaut without a temporary life support system -- it's in trouble. Thus, nearly all commercial floral preservatives contain the basic components of the life support system for the cut flower: a biocide (explained below), an acidifier, and sugar.

Biocides are chemicals that kill the bacteria, yeasts and fungi that feed on the sap that seeps from the cut flower stem. It's an amazing sequence of events: You cut a rose stem and place it in a vase of water. Bacteria start to grow, and within 3 hours, there are 30 million bacteria in the vase! These bacteria plug the tiny straw-tubes that conduct water to the flower. As a result, buds fail to open, necks weaken and bend, and leaves wilt. The acid helps water move up the stem more easily and the sugar acts as a flower food.

Put a penny in the vase: Wives' tale or real solution?

If you don't like to use chemicals to prolong the life of your cut flowers, there are "natural" alternatives. Some methods work better than others. Here's one for you: does a penny and an aspirin tablet placed in the vase water really do any good? Some say the combination does keep flowers fresh longer. The theory is that the copper acts a fungicide and the aspirin makes the water more acidic. Here are more food + acid combinations: · Add one part lemon-lime soda (not diet) to 3 parts water. Then to each quart of this solution, add Ľ teaspoon bleach. Thereafter, add Ľ teaspoon bleach after each 4 days of use. · To 1-quart water add 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1-tablespoon sugar, and ˝ teaspoon bleach. · Add 2 ounces Listerine mouthwash per gallon of water. Listerine contains sucrose (food) and a bactericide. Listerine is acidic and is said help water move up the cut stem.

No-nonsense ways to keep cut flowers longer

· Use plain, lukewarm water for most cut flowers, but use cold water for bulb flowers, such as daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips. · Change the water every 2 days -- don't just top it off. This is the single most effective thing you can do to keep your flowers looking fresh. · Keep flowers out of direct sunlight, and move them to a cool place at night. · Give daffodils their own vase -- daffodil stems give off a compound that is toxic to other flowers. · Keep cut flowers away from fruit, which releases a gas that causes flowers to age faster.

What to do with faded blooms?

First of all, don't throw them away. At the very least, cut them up and add them to the compost pile. Semi-fresh or partially faded flowers, depending on how you look at them, also have a second life in crafts and as edible flowers. Just remember, if you're planning to use them in food, make sure they are truly edible and free of chemicals. · Dry flowers and petals for use in sachets, wreaths, and aromatherapy projects. · Bake edible flowers such as roses and calendula in cakes, breads and cookies. For a 9 x 13-inch cake, fold 2 cups loosely packed petals into the batter. · Press flowers for making personalized note cards. · Add flowers to herbal vinegars. · Preserve edible flowers (viola, pansies) in sugar and use them to decorate cakes. · Use edible flowers as garnishes in salads, casseroles, and soups. May your flowers bring you joy--for a long time.

PLEDGE OF QUALITY

Order with complete confidence from KATO CUT FLOWERS, INC. We select and ship only the finest quality flowers. We pack them carefully to ensure that they arrive safely and at the time requested. If you are not pleased with your purchase, please call our toll-free number 1-(800) 248-5286 (KATO) and our Customer Service representatives will be happy to help you.