Mary Lou,
My experience with nursing homes has been that there is very little in
blooming plants that will work well. Since most of these plants are grown in peat,
they dry out fairly quickly, as you noted. My suggestion would be to send fresh
flowers in a plastic vase. Plastic because it won't break as easily. Unless
family or friends are there visiting several times a week to care for the
plants, blooming plants are not the best selection. Most florist have wonderful
long lasting fresh cut flowers such as carnations, daisies, alstromeria, to name
a few, that will last a very long time, even in the warm environment of
nursing homes. Otherwise, the green plants you mentioned would do the best.
However, remember that florists can insert silk flowers, small bird houses, birds and
many other whimsical items into the green plants to give them color. OR
fresh flowers can be inserted into the green plants with water tubes (which won't
last as long as cuts in a vase).
Just suggestions. Good luck
Barbara Blaha
Henn Cty.
