FTD: Florist-Delivered vs Boxed Flowers, Bouquet Sizes and Same-Day Timing

FTD sells flowers, plants and gift baskets for delivery across the US. Many FTD orders are made up and delivered by a local florist in its network; others are shipped in a box direct to the recipient.

Knowing which kind you are buying explains most of what can go right or wrong with an FTD order: how the bouquet looks, when it arrives and what you are charged.

Florist-delivered versus boxed flowers

Florist-delivered FTD bouquets are arranged by a local shop, placed in a vase and hand-delivered. They arrive ready to display and are the route for same-day delivery.

Boxed FTD flowers are shipped by a carrier, usually in bud, and the recipient trims and arranges them. They last well once opened, but arrive looking less finished and need a vase unless one is included.

The product page on FTD usually says which method applies. For a hospital, an office or an elderly recipient, florist-delivered is the kinder choice.

Picking a bouquet size

Most FTD bouquets come in several sizes, with more stems or larger blooms at each step up. The main photo may show a larger version than the base price, so check which size the picture represents.

Match the size to the setting as well as the occasion. A large FTD arrangement can overwhelm a hospital tray table or a small apartment.

The base size suits a desk or a bedside table. The larger sizes make more impact for anniversaries, sympathy and big birthdays.

Some FTD designs offer an upgraded vase. It adds cost but gives the recipient something to keep.

Substitutions

A local florist fulfilling an FTD order works with the stock it has that day. If a specific flower or vase is unavailable, the florist may substitute something of similar value and style.

Colour palette and overall look are generally kept, but exact stems may differ from the photo. If one flower matters, such as roses for an anniversary, choose a design built around it.

Same-day delivery and special addresses

FTD offers same-day florist delivery in many areas, subject to a daily cut-off set by the local shop. Order in the morning, and trust the delivery date shown at checkout.

Hospitals often restrict flowers in some units, especially intensive care. Call the ward before ordering.

For a funeral, send FTD sympathy flowers to the funeral home ahead of the service time, and include the service details in the delivery notes. Flowers for the family's home can arrive later in the week.

Peak days such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day fill up. Order several days ahead and expect delivery at any time within the day.

Plants and gift baskets

FTD also sells potted plants, such as orchids and peace lilies, and gift baskets. A plant lasts weeks or months rather than days, which makes it a sensible sympathy or get-well choice.

Check whether an FTD plant arrives florist-delivered or boxed, and add a care note for anyone who is not a gardener. For gift baskets, read the contents list, and check delivery rules if a basket includes wine.

Fees at checkout

FTD adds a service or delivery fee to most orders, and it can be higher for same-day or peak dates. Taxes are added too.

Compare the full total, not the bouquet price, when weighing FTD against another florist. Check whether FTD currently offers any delivery membership that waives these fees if you send flowers often.

Making flowers last

Ask the recipient, or tell them in the card, to trim stems at an angle, change the water every couple of days and use the flower food included with most FTD bouquets.

Keep flowers away from direct sun, heaters and fruit bowls. Ripening fruit gives off gas that shortens flower life.

If an FTD bouquet arrives damaged or wilting, photograph it the same day and contact FTD customer service. Check the current satisfaction terms for how quickly you need to report.

Where the FTD savings are

The 30% FTD code is the one to try first. On a $70 bouquet it saves $21, which beats the $15 code.

The $15 code only wins on bouquets under $50 against 30% off, or under $60 against 25%. For a small FTD arrangement or plant, try it alongside the percentage codes and compare totals.

FTD codes normally reduce the product, not the service fee, and some codes are excluded on peak holidays. Check the total after the code rather than the line saving.

Prices and fees are highest around Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. For flexible occasions, avoiding those weeks makes an FTD code go further.

Common questions

Will my FTD bouquet look exactly like the photo?

Close, but the florist may substitute stems of similar value and colour if stock is short.

Can FTD deliver today?

Often, for florist-delivered designs ordered before the local cut-off. Check the date at checkout.

Does an FTD code cover the service fee?

Usually not. Codes normally apply to the product price only.

Is an FTD plant better than cut flowers?

For sympathy or a long illness, often yes, since a plant outlasts a bouquet.