Before you send flowers, do research

Cupid has his petal to the metal. Come Wednesday, as many as 200 million stems of roses (as well as tens of millions of other lush buds) will have found their way to grateful sweethearts throughout the world.

But not all Valentine’s Day flowers are created equal. Some of these precious stems will be lavishly augmented; others will come plainly dressed. Some will be short; others will be long. Some are planted in a vase, others unarranged. Some will appear opulently blossomed, others tightly budded.

And some will arrive perfect, while others, unfortunately, will be bruised and slightly battered.

For many flower senders, the act of ordering Valentine’s Day stems is a crapshoot, the luck of the draw that their intended gets something really special. Senders pick up the phone or click a mouse and hope for the best. After all, it’s the thought that counts, right?

But flower experts say it doesn’t have to be that way. Coming to the table with a little knowledge and planning will help ensure that you get what you want and that the recipient is pleased with his or her flowers.

As anyone who has ordered flowers from far away knows, however, sometimes it isn’t a wow but an uh-oh. Here are some things to know before you order your flowers:

Be informed: Before you pick up the phone or log onto the Internet, take a few key things into consideration. “First, what are you trying to accomplish with this?” said Stan Pohmer, executive director of the Flower Promotion Organization, which represents Colombian and U.S. flower growers. “What emotion or sentiment are you trying to convey?”

In other words, is this for a mother or a wife, a longtime lover or a new crush? Do you want to convey friendship or sensuous love? The intended effect will help the florist decide what types of flowers to use, Pohmer said. Second, he suggests asking about which flowers are the best and freshest. The third consideration is the price, Pohmer said. It’s OK to have a budget, but also remember that a vase and delivery charges, which can vary wildly, will increase the cost.

Wire flowers: Not all flower services operate the same. There are companies that ship from central warehouses (such as ProFlowers.com, Hallmark.com and OrganicBouquet.com) and others (such as FTD, Teleflora and (800) Flowers) that “don’t touch the flowers at all” but contract with a massive network of local florists to get the job done, Pohmer said.

What’s the difference? With something like ProFlowers, you’re eliminating one of the distribution steps; because the flowers are coming directly from a farm or a central distribution location, the flowers are handled less, which is always a good thing for such delicate and perishable products.

With FTD and Teleflora, you’re working with a proven business model. “You may not know who is going to fulfill your order, but they have built an element of trust,” Pohmer said.

Know your local florist: Instead of going the anonymous route, stop in to a local florist or give a call to a neighborhood flower shop for that hands-on touch, Parks said.

Think outside the box: This time of year, traditional red roses are at a premium, which makes other buds attractive. “Think it through; there are so many other beautiful options,” said Laura Milder, a spokeswoman for ProFlowers. “Do you really need roses? There are other ways to approach Valentine’s Day.”

And while red is the traditional color of the lovers holiday, you might make a greater impact with other colors, such as pink, or a monochromatic arrangement (all white, all yellow, all orange), Milder said.

Men like flowers, too: “Men are getting many more flowers now,” Parks said. “They’re finally owning up to the fact that they love them, too.” Parks advises to go with something streamlined – masculine and simple – rather than a large bouquet. Also, a tall clear vase or a rectangular vase might be better for the man. She suggests orchids and calla lilies for men.

Fair cost or price gouging? The undeniable equation of supply and demand means that roses are going to be more expensive during this peak demand, Pohmer said. Getting flowers to bloom precisely at this time requires throwing them off their schedules.

Expect roses to be at least double the normal cost during this peak time, Pohmer said.