ProFlowers: Bouquet Upgrades, Delivery Dates and Keeping Flowers Fresh

ProFlowers sells bouquets, plants and gift add-ons for delivery across the US, with most orders built around a single occasion and a single date. The flowers are rarely the problem. What decides whether a ProFlowers order goes well is the size you pick, the delivery day you book, and what the recipient does in the first hour.

This guide goes through each of those choices in the order you meet them on the ProFlowers site, then covers where the codes help.

How ProFlowers bouquets arrive

Many ProFlowers bouquets are packed and shipped in a box by carrier rather than arranged and hand-delivered by a local florist. That changes what the recipient sees on the doorstep.

A boxed ProFlowers bouquet often arrives with blooms still partly closed, especially lilies and some roses. They open over the following days, which is why a boxed bouquet can outlast a fully open florist arrangement.

Some ProFlowers listings are fulfilled differently, including items offered for same-day delivery. Read the product page for how that particular bouquet is delivered, because it affects both the cut-off time and how the flowers look on day one.

Choosing a bouquet size

Most ProFlowers bouquets come in more than one size, usually a base version plus larger upgrades with more stems. The product photo is not always the base version, so check which size the picture shows before comparing prices.

The upgrade is worth paying for when the bouquet is the whole gift, such as an anniversary or a birthday for someone you will not see. For a thank-you or a get-well note, the base ProFlowers size usually reads as generous enough.

Count stems rather than trusting adjectives. A ProFlowers listing that says two dozen roses tells you more than one that says lush or abundant, and it lets you compare two bouquets fairly.

The vase and the add-ons

ProFlowers typically offers a vase with the bouquet, sometimes included and sometimes as an extra. If the recipient already owns vases, skip it. If they may not, add it, because a boxed bouquet with nothing to stand in is a poor surprise.

Chocolates, balloons, bears and cards add up quickly. Pick one add-on at most, and write the card message yourself rather than leaving it blank. The note is what the recipient remembers.

Plants are the other route. A ProFlowers orchid or succulent lasts weeks or months rather than days, which suits an office desk or someone who dislikes dead stems in the bin.

Picking the delivery date

ProFlowers lets you choose a delivery date, and the delivery charge can vary with the day and speed you pick. Check the delivery fee on the checkout page before comparing the bouquet price with another florist.

Weekend and next-day slots are often limited or cost more. Where the date is flexible, choosing a weekday delivery a day early is usually cheaper and means the flowers are open by the actual occasion.

Valentine's Day and Mother's Day are the pressure points. ProFlowers prices, fees and sell-outs all peak then, so order a week or more ahead and book the day before if the recipient will be at home.

Deliver to where the person will actually be. A boxed ProFlowers order left outside a locked office on a Saturday is the most common way these gifts go wrong.

Making the flowers last

Include this in your card, or send it by text, because the recipient does the work that decides how long the ProFlowers bouquet lasts.

Unbox straight away, trim a couple of centimetres from each stem at an angle, and put them in a clean vase of fresh water with the flower food provided. Strip any leaves that would sit below the waterline.

Keep the vase out of direct sun, away from radiators, and away from fruit bowls, since ripening fruit shortens flower life. Change the water every two days and re-trim the stems.

For lilies, pull off the orange pollen tips as the flowers open. It stains fabric, and lily pollen is dangerous to cats.

If something arrives wrong

Photograph the flowers and the box as soon as they arrive if anything looks damaged, wilted or different from the order. ProFlowers customer service will usually ask for pictures.

Contact ProFlowers promptly. Flowers are perishable, so a complaint made a week later is much harder to resolve than one made the same day. Check the current satisfaction terms on the ProFlowers site before you order.

Where the ProFlowers savings are

AARP30 appears to be an AARP member offer, so expect it to work only if you qualify. For everyone else, the 25% ProFlowers code is the one to try first.

Do the break-even sum on the $15 code. It beats 25% off on any bouquet under $60, and 25% wins above that. Most ProFlowers orders with an upgrade land above $60, so the percentage usually saves more.

Check whether a code reduces delivery fees or only the bouquet. Percentage codes normally apply to the product, so the delivery charge stays the same.

Codes often exclude peak dates. If a ProFlowers code fails in February or May, try a delivery date outside the busiest days before assuming it is dead.

Common questions

Do ProFlowers bouquets arrive fully open?

Often not. Many are shipped in a box with some blooms in bud, and they open over a few days.

Is the ProFlowers vase worth adding?

Only if the recipient may not own a suitable vase. Otherwise it adds cost without adding much.

When should I order ProFlowers for Mother's Day?

At least a week ahead, and book delivery the day before if you can, while slots and stock remain.

Can I use two ProFlowers codes on one order?

Usually only one code applies. Test the options at checkout and keep the one that gives the lowest total.