Floral Arrangement Tips
A floral arrangement brings color, style and life to a home, and is a must at many events, such as weddings. There are many reasons you may want to make your own arrangement, including saving money and expressing your creativity. Educating yourself on the basics of flower arranging is a smart move no matter your style or need.
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Give it Structure
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Sometimes plunking down a bouquet into a vase just does not give a high quality look. When it comes to support, floral foam is best suited for a short lived give-away arrangement. Foam can be destroyed to the point of being useless by an elaborate arrangement that requires a lot of "tweaking" or movement of stems to get just the right look. Also, weaker stems can break when pushed into the foam. Floral frogs are the best choice for giving structure to a dense arrangement. It is generally plastic, comes in many shapes and sizes, and looks like pin cushions. Clear or floral tape can be used for temporary support in place of a frog or foam. Put stones or marbles in the bottom of the container and create a grid across the top with tape. Remove the tape when the arrangement is complete.
Experiment With Design
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A vase is not the only place for cut flowers, any container that holds water will do. A watering can or lemonade pitcher would have a country or rustic look. An old teapot or mismatched parfait glasses would suit a shabby chic style. A wine decanter could serve as a vase at your next dinner party. Look around your home for glasses, pots, urns, bowls or bottles that might accent your décor or the theme of an upcoming event.
Play around with flower selections. A modern arrangement could be comprised of a single type of flower or many types of flowers in the same color. Bunch small flowers together so they are not lost visually. Avoid strong-smelling flowers--even pleasant smells can become overwhelming in a small or hot space. A single flower is OK, too.
Make it Last
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Take steps to enjoy your floral arrangement as long as possible. Buy the freshest flowers. Before putting them in a container, remove leaves that will be below the water line and cut the stems at an angle with a sharp knife or scissors. Use commercial plant food in the water and replace the water entirely if it becomes cloudy. Keep an eye on the waterline to make sure that your plants do not go thirsty. Also, place the arrangement in a cool place or keep the water cool with an ice cube or two. No matter what you do, different plants have different life spans. When one type of flower or plant material dies, move the survivors to another smaller container rather than throwing them all out.
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