UrbanStems vs. Floom: My Honest Experience Ordering Flowers Online

As someone who has now ordered flowers from several online sellers, including both UrbanStems and Floom, I wanted to give an honest, side-by-side comparison of what it’s really like to order from these two popular flower delivery services. I’ve experienced the highs (gorgeous, gift-worthy bouquets) and the lows (waiting days for something underwhelming to show up), so this breakdown is based entirely on my personal experience— what impressed me, what fell short, and ultimately, which one I’d be more likely to trust with my next order.

A Little Context

I live in Louisiana, where the heat is no joke—especially in the summer. When it comes to flower delivery, I’m looking for more than just a pretty bouquet. I want a company that delivers reliably, packages things with care (and ideally some style), and gives me decent value for my money.

When I placed my Floom order, I had already ordered from UrbanStems, so I had a decent benchmark. Both experiences had pros and cons, but one definitely edged out the other. Here’s how they compare across the categories that mattered most to me: price, bouquet size, packaging, delivery, and the little thoughtful touches.

1. Price & Value for Money– Let’s start with the numbers.

Floom:

• Bouquet: $85 for colorful tulips (a splurge)
• Shipping: $14.99
• Total: $99.99
• Size: Extremely small—smaller than expected, even for tulips

I knew tulips were on the pricier side and that they tend to come in smaller bunches, but this felt…tiny. Think: too-small-for-a-pint-jar small. For nearly $100, I expected at least a fuller-looking bunch or something with more visual impact. That said, tulips are delicate, so I wasn’t expecting a huge, dramatic bouquet—but even by tulip standards, this one felt skimpy.

Looking back at their website to confirm pricing, I see the bouquet is now listed as $60 for the Original (small) size—which is what I received—and $90 for the Premium (large). They’re currently out of stock, but I honestly don’t remember seeing both size options at checkout. Not sure where my $85 total came from!

UrbanStems:

• Bouquet: Double “The Sorbet”
• Price: $122 (You can also apply a 20% first-time customer discount.)
• Shipping: Free with a subscription; typically $10–$15 otherwise
• Size: Full, lush, and colorful—looked just like the photo

Now, to be fair, the single version of “The Sorbet” bouquet is $68, which would’ve been a closer price comparison to Floom. But I went for the double, and it was worth every penny. The bouquet was beautifully arranged, full of soft pinks, peaches, and cream tones with roses, ranunculus, and other mixed blooms. It made a serious visual statement straight out of the box.

Winner: UrbanStems — Even at a higher price, I felt like I got far more in return—more blooms, better quality, and a stronger overall presentation.

2. Delivery Experience– This is where things really started to separate.

Floom:

• Ordered on: Wednesday before noon
• Promised delivery: Originally said “Next Day” on the product page
• Actual earliest delivery offered at checkout: The following Wednesday (5 business days later)
• Delivery tracking: Emailed me when it shipped and again when it was delivered
• Delivery timing: Midday, left on doorstep in 103° Louisiana heat

Now, I appreciate the tracking updates— especially since I have a very curious Doodle who would 100% tear into a box if given the chance. But the timeline here was frustrating. Next-day availability was one of the reasons I chose the bouquet I did, so when I got to checkout and realized I couldn’t get it for another full week, I was already disappointed, but committed.

UrbanStems:

• Ordered on: Thursday afternoon
• Delivered: Saturday morning—just 2 days later (and on a Saturday was surprising!)
• Delivery tracking: Seamless, with email updates and an ETA window
• Timing: Arrived early in the day, before the Louisiana heat got too intense

UrbanStems still felt fast and efficient. It didn’t promise next-day delivery, but two-day turnaround was more than reasonable—especially compared to Floom’s week-long wait. The tracking was accurate and helpful, and my flowers were on the doorstep before the hottest part of the day hit.

Winner: UrbanStems — In a climate where your flowers could wilt on the doorstep, timely delivery is everything.

3. Packaging & Presentation– Let’s talk boxes, wrapping, and first impressions.

Floom:

• Packaging: Secure, but not especially beautiful
• No flower food or care instructions included
  
• Bouquet was simply wrapped with a small ribbon,  in tissue paper and plastic, with a wet sponge at the base (which was warm to the touch)
• Looked okay on arrival—flowers weren’t wilted, but definitely warm and a little weary

Floom’s box did a good job of keeping everything in place, and the bouquet arrived intact, even after traveling all the way from New York. (That part’s on me—I didn’t realize the florist wasn’t local until after I checked out.) But the presentation didn’t wow me. There was no branded wrapping and no note or guidance. Since I’m not a tulip expert, I wasn’t sure if I needed to trim the stems or not. I just dropped them into a vase and hoped for the best. I noticed after the fact that care instructions are available on their website, but honestly, that’s something I feel should be included in the box.

UrbanStems:

• Packaging: Gorgeous, gift-worthy presentation, branded on the inside and outside of the box. 
• Wrapped in designer-style paper and tied with ribbon
• Included flower food, trimming instructions, and a little message card
• Flowers looked perfectly fresh on arrival—even in the middle of July. But these only came from South Texas, so it wasn’t nearly as long of a journey as the Floom bouquet.

UrbanStems feels premium from the minute you open the box. Everything was thoughtfully packed and beautifully arranged. There was flower food, a step-by-step card with care instructions, and a cute branded message card. It felt like unwrapping a bouquet from a high-end boutique—only without ever leaving the house.

Winner: UrbanStems — Everything from the branding to the extras just felt more elevated.

4. Flower Quality & Longevity

Floom:

• Flower type: Tulips
• Condition on arrival: Warm but not too wilted, which is impressive given the heat
• Longevity: TBD (no flower food included)
• Visual impact: Small and simple, beautiful, but not a wow moment

Let me give Floom credit here—the tulips held up remarkably well given the 103° heat. I was nervous when I pulled the bouquet out and the sponge at the base felt warm to the touch, but the flowers looked okay. Not droopy, not brown. Just…tiny. Still, with no flower food and no care instructions, I’m not overly optimistic about how long they’ll last.

UrbanStems:

• Flower type: Mixed bouquet (roses, ranunculus, and others)
• Condition on arrival: Crisp, cool, and perfectly arranged
• Longevity: Lasted over 2 weeks with basic care– I think it was day 18 I finally had to let them go.
• Visual impact: Immediately full, vibrant, and styled

My UrbanStems bouquet looked just as good on day four as it did when I unboxed it, if not better. I gave it a little trim at the end of week 1 and refreshed the water every 3 days, and they lasted for over two weeks in total. The flower food made a difference, and the variety of blooms kept things interesting as some opened and others took the spotlight.

Winner: UrbanStems — Longer-lasting, more impressive flowers with the tools to help them thrive.

5. Customization & Florist Connection

Floom:

One of Floom’s coolest features is that they work with independent florists across the U.S. and the UK. You’re not ordering from a warehouse— you’re supporting a small business with its own design style. It’s great for people who want something more unique or who value the “local florist” vibe.

That said, I wish I had paid more attention to where my florist was located. My flowers came from New York, which likely affected both the price and the delivery timeline. Had I filtered by location, I probably could’ve found a florist closer to me, and maybe even gotten a larger bouquet for the same price, since Louisiana florists tend to charge less than those in NYC.

UrbanStems:

UrbanStems doesn’t offer that same connection to a local florist, but what you get instead is consistency. Their bouquets are designed by in-house floral experts and shipped from centralized facilities, so what you see on the website is exactly what you get. That level of predictability can be a huge relief, especially if you’re sending a gift.

Tie — Floom offers charming individuality; UrbanStems wins on reliability and design consistency.

Final Verdict: Which Would I Order Again?

Let’s break it down:

Category	Winner
Price & Value	UrbanStems
Delivery Experience	UrbanStems
Packaging & Extras	UrbanStems
Flower Quality	UrbanStems
Unique Touch	Floom

While Floom has its strengths, like supporting independent florists and offering one-of-a-kind designs, it just didn’t deliver the overall experience I was hoping for, especially not at the nearly $100 price point (a little over with shipping, taxes, fees, etc.). The bouquet felt too small, shipping was slower than advertised, and the lack of instructions or extras made the whole thing feel like an afterthought.

UrbanStems, on the other hand, delivered a polished, reliable, and beautiful experience from start to finish. The bouquet was full and fresh, the packaging felt special, and the flowers lasted well beyond what I expected. Even though I spent more for the double arrangement, I felt like I actually got what I paid for, and then some.

A Few Tips If You’re Ordering:

If you go with Floom:

• Filter by your zip code and florist location before ordering
• Confirm delivery dates at checkout—not just on the product page
• Be aware that premium flowers like tulips mean fewer stems
• Have your own flower food and vase ready

If you go with UrbanStems:

• Browse by occasion or bouquet style— what you see is what you’ll get
• Use the flower food and trimming tips. They make a big difference!
• Consider a subscription if you order often (free shipping and discounts). Take advantage of 20% off your first order. 
• Check out the ability to add little gifts to your order such as candles, cookies, bath and beauty products– these additions can make the perfect gift. 

Bottom Line

If you want a dependable, beautiful bouquet that arrives quickly and looks exactly like the photo, UrbanStems is my go-to. If you’re up for a little more unpredictability and want to support a small florist somewhere in the country, Floom could still be a fun option— just maybe not in the middle of a Southern heatwave.

At the end of the day, flowers should feel like a treat— and UrbanStems nailed that feeling for me.