Flower Arrangement Instructions
Making your own floral arrangements can become more than just practical and affordable, it can turn into an enjoyable hobby. By following a few rules, anyone can design an attractive, long-lasting floral arrangement. You can easily design your own flowers for budget-conscious events, arrange boxed flowers sent to you by mail, or create a centerpiece made from your own garden's flowers. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
The design of the vase should complement your floral design. Wash the container you'll be using for the flower arrangement and fill it with tepid water. This will prevent bacteria from developing in the water and prematurely wilting your arrangement.
-
2
Trim your flower stems while running them under lukewarm water. Trim an inch from your flowers and greenery. Make a 45 degree cut with scissors or garden trimmers about an inch from the bottom of your flower stem. According to Mayesh Wholesale Florist, "Cutting on an angle gives the stem more area to take water and nutrients and also prevents the stem from sitting flat at the bottom of the vessel."
-
-
3
Remove all leaves that would sit below the water level. Foliage falling below the water level encourages bacteria growth that both prematurely wilts your arrangement and makes it smell.
-
4
Form a grid shape out of tape across the top of your container to give your stems more support. Floral tape is narrower and more waterproof than scotch tape, but both types will work. Divide the top of your container, both horizontally and vertically, by applying tape to one side of the container and running it across the top of the vessel to connect at the other side. Do this as many times as needed for your particular arrangement. The grid squares give your flowers more support when the flower stems are inserted through them.
-
5
Build a base for your flowers by arranging a layer of greenery in the vase. This layer can include ferns, grasses and stems of leaves or branches. Arrange this bottom layer of your arrangement with each piece corresponding to the position of a number on a clock. Placing your base layer in this method will create a natural inner grid for your arrangement to rest in, as well as provide an evenly rounded design.
-
6
Add "layers" of flowers by concentrating on one type of bloom at a time. Your floral design will have more structure and be better organized if you stick with adding one type of flower at a time. Floral expert Rebecca Cole swears by the technique of arranging your flowers by layers.
-
7
Use floral wire to support weak stems or shape stems that are too straight for your design. Floral wire is available in different gauges and colors. Insert the wire through the flower stem directly under the bud and leave equal lengths of wire on each side of the stem. Twist these wire ends around and down the length of the stem. The flower's stem will then either be strengthened enough to stand on its own or pliable enough for you to gently bend it in to shape with the rest of your arrangement.
-
8
-
9
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Change the water in your arrangement frequently. This should be done at least every three days.
Use odd numbers of flowers to create interesting floral designs.
Avoid placing your arrangement near high temperatures or direct sunlight.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bouquet image by Melissa Schalke from Fotolia.com antique vase image by taitanojt0 from Fotolia.com flowers and scissors image by poco_bw from Fotolia.com green fern image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com roses image by Olga Charnukha from Fotolia.com
