A thermocol heart at a flower shop in Bistupur on Monday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

A single rose to make knees go weak? Er, not quite. Cupid this year has become a tad more choosy.

A bouquet or a single stem — a Valentine’s Day staple — is losing its charm for lovers in Jamshedpur. Innovation is the new name of the game. So even if you say the obvious with flowers, make sure that the language is new.

The bouquets have to be customised to impress your girl. At least, that’s what florists — who morph into Cupid’s closest aides around February 14 — have to say.

“Readymade gifts and bouquets are passé. But as red roses are eternal favourites, we are making designer bouquets. Youngsters nowadays come up with their own designs, which we follow,” said Mohammad Samsher, who owns Bistupur’s Rose Gallery.

Giant thermocol hearts filled with roses seem to be a rage this year, going by what Rose Gallery has to offer.

“It costs up to Rs 4,000,” said Shamsher.

Some bouquets invite the recipient to play a game of hide and seek and locate a beautiful quotation or a gift or a framed photograph of the couple or even chocolates amid the petals.

“These cost Rs 5,000,” said the owner.

Apart from roses, orchids and gerberas are also flowers that woo on V-Day.

“It depends on the customer’s choice. What used to be a simple bouquet now has elements of style and surprise. We end up using a lot of craft products to embellish the gift. Handmade baskets are also a hot trend this year,” Amar Singh, a florist in Sakchi, said, adding they would be working the whole night to get ready for Valentine’s Day.

With flowers getting so much attention, no wonder they are getting pricier. A single rose stem, which cost Rs 10, now comes for Rs 30. The price of a normal bouquet has doubled from Rs 400 to Rs 800. But couples don’t seem to mind. In fact, the only thing that they do mind is the same old boring bouquet.