How to Professionally Arrange Flowers

Take a quick look at the prices florists get these days to arrange flowers, and it’s no wonder why you would like to try doing it yourself. Besides, the more adept you become at creating flower arrangements from scratch, the prouder you’ll be to display your creations. Here are a few tips that will help you become a professional flower arranger.

Instructions

1. Before you buy the flowers, think about how the room is decorated and where your arrangement will be placed. That will tell you something about how large it should be, and whether it should be tall or short. Also, take that time to decide if the arrangement should be colorful or more muted. That will help you choose the right flowers to use.

2. If you’re new to flower arranging, start simply by massing tightly together a bunch of flowers of the same color. That type of arrangement can be very effective, with its emphasis on color rather than an ornate arrangement. Make sure you buy enough flowers, and you use a container that is high enough for support.

3. If your flower arrangement is to be placed in the middle of the room, it will be seen from all sides. Ordinarily, these arrangements feature tall flowers in the center with intermediate and smaller stems leaning away from the center. Fill in the gaps with short stems and foliage, making sure that none of them cross each other.

4. If you are making an arrangement for a dinner table, it should be low so the dinner guests’ vision is not obstructed. The shape of the arrangement should correspond to the shape of the table.

5. If you are planning for your flower arrangement to be used outdoors, do not use dried flowers or those made of paper or latex, because the sun and weather will take their toll. Rather, use fresh flowers, or sturdy artificial ones, and spray them with waterproof lacquer to keep them looking fresh.

6. A major problem with outdoor flower arrangements is that the wind is not your friend. To secure them, partially fill your container with sand and top it with plaster of Paris. You will find that the container of flowers will be easy to move, and it will be impervious to the wind. Be creative by adding a few drops of food coloring the plaster. You can also set stones or other natural substances atop the plaster to add an interesting look.

Tips & Warnings

• Often, your flowers may have wilted because of dehydration by the time you unwrap them at home. Flowers generally take in water both through the stems as well as through the buds. Try submerging the entire flower in lukewarm water for about five minutes.

• Avoid using clear glass vessels for your arrangements because they hasten bacterial decay due to letting in sunlight.