Wholesale Flowers Explained: Bulk Stems, Conditioning and Quantities
Wholesale flowers are cut stems sold in bulk, by the bunch or box rather than as finished bouquets, usually unarranged and sometimes still in tight bud. Buying wholesale makes sense when you need a large number of one variety and are ready to clean, trim and condition the flowers yourself; for a single gift a finished bouquet is almost always the better choice.
In our shops in Saint Petersburg, where Pyat Tsvetov has worked since 2011, people often ask about buying "wholesale" when they are planning a wedding, a corporate event or a large birthday, or when they want to make bouquets themselves. The questions are always similar: how flowers are counted, how many are needed, and how much work they take after purchase. This guide answers those questions honestly from a florist's side of the counter.
How wholesale flowers are counted and sold
Wholesale stems are sold in standard packs rather than individually. Roses usually come in bunches of 10, 20 or 25 stems, spray roses and chrysanthemums are counted by the stem but each stem carries several heads, and greenery such as eucalyptus or pistacia is sold by the bunch or by weight. The pack size matters, because you will often have to buy more than you planned to reach the next full bunch.
Stem length is the second key parameter. Roses are graded by length in centimetres, commonly from 40 to 80 cm and longer, and the head size grows with the stem. For table arrangements and small bouquets a shorter stem is perfectly fine, while tall vases and statement bouquets need the longer grades. Choosing the length you actually need is the simplest way to avoid paying for stem you will cut off.
Wholesale flowers also arrive unprepared. Roses keep their outer guard petals, which look bruised but protect the head in transport, and the stems still carry leaves and thorns. Budgeting time for cleaning is part of buying in bulk.
Conditioning bulk flowers after purchase
Conditioning is the process that turns a box of dry stems into flowers that will last. As soon as you get them home, unpack the flowers, remove the leaves that would sit below the water line, and recut every stem by 2-3 cm at an angle with a sharp knife rather than scissors. Put them straight into clean buckets of cool water and let them drink for several hours, ideally overnight, in a cool room.
Do not overcrowd the buckets. Tightly packed heads sweat and develop grey mould, especially roses and eustoma. Keep buckets away from radiators, direct sun and fruit, which releases ethylene and speeds up ageing. Change the water and recut the stems every day until the event, and remove the outer guard petals of roses only shortly before arranging.
Timing matters as much as technique. Most flowers need one to two days after purchase to open properly, so buying the morning of a wedding often means tight buds in the photographs. Buying too early has the opposite risk. For most events two days ahead is a good compromise.
Bouquets we can deliver
How many stems you actually need
Customers almost always underestimate quantities. A round hand-tied bouquet that looks generous takes around 15-25 stems of roses or a mix of 7-9 spray stems with greenery. A low table centrepiece for a round guest table needs roughly 15-20 stems plus greenery. A bride's bouquet is usually 25-35 stems depending on flower size, and each buttonhole takes one or two small heads.
Always add a margin of about 10 percent. Some heads will be damaged in transport, some stems will snap during arranging, and a few buds will refuse to open. Greenery is the most often forgotten item: without it bulk flowers look sparse and tightly packed, and a mix of two or three kinds of foliage makes the whole arrangement look fuller with fewer flowers.
Choose sturdy varieties if you are new to arranging. Roses, spray roses, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria and carnations tolerate handling and last well. Peonies, ranunculus, hydrangeas and sweet peas are beautiful but less forgiving, and hydrangeas in particular wilt quickly if they dry out even briefly.
When a finished bouquet is the better choice
Buying in bulk saves effort only when you have the time, space and buckets to process the flowers and the skill to arrange them. For a gift, a single bouquet or even a handful of bouquets for colleagues, a finished arrangement from a florist is more practical: the flowers are already cleaned and conditioned, the composition is balanced, and it is packed to travel.
The same applies when you are far away. People abroad sometimes look up wholesale flowers hoping to send a large quantity to relatives in Russia, but loose stems in a box need someone on the spot to unpack and condition them. A finished bouquet arrives ready to put in water, which is exactly what the recipient needs.
A useful middle ground for a large occasion is to order one or two impressive bouquets for the key moments, such as the person being celebrated or the head of the table, and keep the rest of the decor simple. One well-made bouquet in a prominent place makes more impression than many loose stems arranged in a rush.
Ordering bouquets for delivery in Russia
Pyat Tsvetov has three of its own flower shops in Saint Petersburg, on Ilyushina Street, Obvodny Canal Embankment and Srednerogatskaya Street, and we deliver flowers across Russia. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In Saint Petersburg delivery works around the clock.
In large cities express delivery arrives 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, or you can choose an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes), one of the windows 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order 1-30 days ahead, which is useful when several bouquets need to arrive on a fixed date. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, and a card with your text is free.
Payment is online on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. Browse the bouquets catalogue, check the conditions on the delivery and payment page, and if you are planning several bouquets for one event, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05 to discuss quantities and timing.
Frequently asked questions
What does wholesale flowers mean?
Wholesale flowers are cut stems sold in bulk by the bunch or box, unarranged and often in bud. They suit people who need large quantities and can clean and condition the flowers themselves.
How many roses come in a wholesale bunch?
Roses are usually packed in bunches of 10, 20 or 25 stems. Length is graded in centimetres, and longer stems usually carry larger heads.
How far ahead should I buy flowers for an event?
For most flowers about two days ahead is a good balance. That gives buds time to open after conditioning without the flowers starting to fade.
How do I keep bulk flowers fresh?
Remove lower leaves, recut stems at an angle, put them in clean cool water in uncrowded buckets and keep them away from heat, sun and fruit. Change the water daily.
Can I pay from abroad for flowers delivered in Russia?
Yes. Foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa, and the site also accepts Russian bank cards, SBP and Yandex Pay.
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