The honest page
Every flower here is going to die
Every flower on this page is going to die. The only question we can actually answer is when, and we would rather tell you before you choose than after. If it needs to last a week, we will steer you to orchids and chrysanthemum. If it only needs to be right for one evening, spend the money on the flower you actually wanted.
The market run
Chai leaves for the wholesale flower market at 03:00 on Tuesday and Friday and is back by 06:30. Wednesday and Saturday get a top-up delivered to the door.
So the freshest the shop ever is, is Tuesday and Friday morning. If the date is yours to choose, choose one of those.
Days are for a Bangkok room at 30 °C with no air conditioning, water changed once. In air conditioning, add two to four days.
Per stem
What it costs and how long it lasts
| Flower | Price | Days in a room without air conditioning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose — Chiang Mai | ฿35 / stem | 4 – 5 | Red, pink, white or cream. In the week of 14 February these cost us roughly double, and we pass that on. |
| Rose — imported | ฿120 / stem | 5 – 6 | Bigger head. No more scent than the local one. |
| Gerbera | ฿25 / stem | 5 – 6 | The heads flop. We wire every one. |
| Chrysanthemum | ฿15 / stem | 10 – 12 | White or yellow. The longest-lasting inexpensive flower in the shop. |
| Carnation | ฿20 / stem | 8 – 10 | Fine anywhere, and correct for sympathy. Some markets treat it as a cheap flower. It lasts ten days, which is the point. |
| Lily — oriental | ฿90 / stem | 7 – 9 | White. Anthers removed on request — the pollen stains cloth permanently. Strong scent Heavy pollen |
| Lily — asiatic | ฿60 / stem | 7 – 8 | Orange or pink. Less scent than oriental. Heavy pollen |
| Dendrobium orchid | ฿30 / spray | 12 – 14 | Purple. Thailand’s own, and the toughest thing we sell. |
| Mokara orchid | ฿35 / spray | 10 – 12 | Holds up in a car. |
| Anthurium | ฿55 / stem | 12 – 14 | Reads as modern rather than romantic. |
| Bird of paradise | ฿70 / stem | 10 – 12 | Tall. Van delivery only. |
| Sunflower | ฿45 / stem | 4 – 5 | Heavy pollen. Not for a hospital room. Heavy pollen |
| Tuberose ดอกซ่อนกลิ่น | ฿30 / stem | 3 – 4 | Very strong scent. Never for a hospital room, and ask before sending it to an office. Strong scent |
| Gypsophila | ฿35 / bunch | 10 – 14 | Dries well. Keeps its shape after it dies. |
| Eucalyptus | ฿30 / stem | 7 | Foliage, and scented. Strong scent |
| Hydrangea — imported | ฿180 / stem | 2 | The shortest life in the shop. We will tell you this before you buy it, every time. |
| Peony — imported | ฿280 / stem | 3 | March to May only. Beautiful, expensive, and over in three days. We will still sell it to you. |
| Marigold ดาวเรือง | ฿8 / stem | 6 – 7 | Temple flower. Sold loose or strung. |
| Lotus bud บัว | ฿12 / stem | 2 – 3 | Folded to order for the temple, the same morning. |
| Jasmine garland พวงมาลัย | ฿40 / each | 1 | Made the morning you want it. It is meant to be over by evening. |
Days are for a Bangkok room at 30 °C with no air conditioning, water changed once. In air conditioning, add two to four days.
Pollen, scent and allergies
Tell us and we will work around it.
- Lily anthers, removed on request at no cost.
- Lily, sunflower, tuberose and eucalyptus avoided entirely on request.
Lily pollen stains cloth permanently and does not wash out. If it is going somewhere with a pale sofa, say so.
What survives a motorbike
Anything wrapped and under 45 cm goes by motorbike.
Anything in water, anything in a vase, anything over 45 cm, every stand and every wreath goes in the van.
Van windows: 09:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 17:00
A van delivery is a window, not a time. We would rather say that than promise a clock time we cannot hold.
The one nobody publishes
Roses cost about double in the week of 14 February
That is what they cost us at the market, and we pass it on rather than pretending otherwise or quietly shrinking the bouquet. If the date is not fixed, the week after is the same flowers at the normal price. If it is fixed, order early — on the day itself we are choosing between customers, not between roses.