Michael, from Hartlepool, always buys his wife a bunch of flowers for Valentine’s Day, but he has heard that some flowers have different meanings. He would like some suggestions for bouquets that will keep him in his wife’s good books.

FLOWERS have long been associated with romance (and a whole host of other emotions), but with many varieties and colours holding a meaning of their own, it is important to get it right.

The Victorians attached great significance to the language of flowers, called florigraphy. It was a means of communication in which flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages. Some meanings have changed slightly over the years, but the following is a quick and very basic guide to getting it right.

Roses are a good bet for showing affection.

Red and white roses together can symbolise unity, red also meaning true love, while white signifies everlasting love. Pink roses signify happiness. Yellow roses used to be a sign of jealousy, but now they stand for joy, friendship and freedom – so may not be right for Valentine’s Day.

One rose shows the utmost devotion in its simplicity, while ten roses say “you are perfect”, a dozen mean “be mine” and if you push the boat out with 24, you are saying “can’t stop thinking about you”.

Red tulips might be the next best thing to roses as they are a declaration of love. White lilies mean innocence and purity, but be aware they can be associated with death, so if you’re unsure maybe choose a different flower, such as the gerbera, which says “you are the sunshine of my life”.

Helen, in Stockton, is expecting a bouquet from her boyfriend this weekend. She likes to show off her flowers in her front window, but they usually don’t last more than a few days. She would like to know how to extend their life.

MOST shop-bought flowers will come with a guarantee of how long they’ll stay in bloom, but to help them along follow these simple steps.

Remove all outer packaging, except for hand-tied bouquets where the string that holds the stems together must remain intact.

Cut off the lowest inch of stem, angling the cut at 45 degrees to increase their uptake of water. Place them in a cool room for maximum life, although warm rooms will help to open up tight buds.

If your flowers didn’t arrive with plant food, add a few drops of bleach and a couple of teaspoons of sugar, to keep the water clean and the flowers full of energy.

■ Brigid presents the BBC Tees Gardening show on Sundays from 1pm to 2pm. Questions can be answered on the day by emailing brigidpress@bbc.co.uk any time during the week, or texting 07786- 200995 or phoning 01642-225511 during the show. Written letters can be addressed to Lazy Dayz,10 Farm Road, Houghall, Durham, DH1 3SF.