FOR the uninitiated, flowers are a minefield - do you get one or a bunch? How much should you spend? Surely roses are ok?

Vibe wants to help you - and frankly we can’t afford to mess it up again either - so we asked Emma Wilson, the head florist at Bridge Artistic Flowers in Bellegrove Road, Welling, to share some of her knowhow.

Emma said: “Obviously most people choose red roses but not everybody loves roses.

“Orchids are always a nice choice and Gerbera are popular, so are Lillies.”

So, yes, roses are fine. But what colour? You guessed it; red.

“Certain colours of roses have different meanings; red is love, yellow is friendship and white is peace,” said Emma.

“For a first Valentines, if you have not been seeing the person for very long, you should probably just go for a single rose. They are nice and simple but not too over-the-top.

“For a grand gesture, you could go for 12 red roses or mixed bouquet which also has roses in it.”

In terms of arrangement, Emma said hand-tied is always popular but vases are a good idea because they have a lasting momento, as are options with teddies and chocolates.

Roses cost a few quid at this time of year, so Emma reckons £30 is a decent amount to spend on a new love, although you can go much extravagant.

She said: ““We have had people order 100 red roses hand tied, which was quite expensive.

“The biggest Valentine’s order we have was for a £200 bouquet. It was large but you get a lot in it. It was about four foot by the time it was finished, with lots of roses in it.

“It was a Valentine from a husband to his wife. As far as I’m aware it was good because he was back the next year for another one, slightly smaller.”

Go to wellingflorist.co.uk or call 020 83036616.