I always feel kind of sad for the flowers, who, just because they are beautiful, have to end up dying to express love. So I’m wondering what about it do people find attractive? Why not in a large pot? Why does it have to be in a bouquet?
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How long do you think flowers last when they are not cut? I have flowers like peonies in my garden and they last only a bit longer being uncut and left in the garden. As long as the bees are getting fed it is alright with me.
It symbolises you cutting the flowers off and giving tgem to the person as a gift. If youre in a field of flowers you wont start digging one out of the ground and putting it into a pot you conveniently got with you. This ritualised cutting off of flowers because youre thinking of them is why we gift bouquets
It is a learnt behaviour. Many people don’t even like flower, but giving and receiving bouquets is a ritual that is accepted without question, much like greeting each other on the way, or asking each other “how are you doing”. It serves not much practical purpose and has to be learnt and taught.
Having said that, it is not entirely meaningless. The idea is to offer something that is pleasing to the senses. And it does not have to be expensive, and should not need much upkeep. Flowers tick those boxes. They are colourful, pleasing to the eyes, represent liveliness and smell good. So the tradition has been established of gifting flowers.
I agree with your hidden proposition that giving live plants is better than giving flowers. However, plants need maintenance, flowers may be discarded guilt free after a while, because they were going to wilt anyway on the plant as well.
Bouquets dry out eventually, making space for buying more. Like /r/endlesswar but with consumerism and romantic ideas.
Not everyone likes cut flowers. Flowers that are grown to be cut are grown in huge greenhouses and are bred to have beautiful blooms and to be hardy for transport. Their only purpose in life is to be cut and enjoyed by the person who receives them.
Giving them is often seen as kind and thoughtful, as they are bright and cheery. As well, since flowers are not something anyone “needs” like food and shelter, they are a small extravagance that many people do not buy for themselves.
Giving someone a potted plant is not always preferable. A potted plant is an obligation. The recipient has to water it, fertilize it, find a sunny window for it, keep their pets away from it, prune it, and possibly re-pot it after it grows – and if they go away for a few weeks they have to arrange for it to be watered. If they don’t do some of these things then it will die and they may feel bad about “killing” it.
Aside from the fact that they are a nice, temporary decoration that reminds the person of you as long as the flowers are there but without the burden of being permanent, in the Victorian (or was it Edwardian? I forget) era people used flowers to convey messages. Someone who knew their flowers could use a gift of flowers to convey a polite thank you, tell someone to bugger off, or express their undying love
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