Flower arrangements

Principles of Flower Arranging

• Flower arranging, like any work of art, requires that the arrangement be impeccable whatever angle it is viewed from, even if it is destined to be placed near a wall. This is why “pros” use rotating tables so that they can inspect their work from all sides.
• Pay particular attention to your choice of container, it is this that will determine the style, shape and colours…
• Strive for harmony. Some tips:
  • For the shape:
    • Take an odd number of flowers.
    • Creating an arrangement is for all levels! Everyone has their own technique: certain people begin by constructing a base, others with the flowers and then completing the arrangement by filling in the empty spaces.
    • Respect the natural movement of the foliage (for example you should give a branch the same angle in a bouquet that it had in it’s original tree, conserving its direction of growth).

• For the colours: at the beginning start with things you know such as shades (red, pink, white, red, orange, yellow, orange, yellow, white), then try contrasts (yellow and blue for example)

Creation of your flower arrangement

• Avoid cutting your flowers during the hottest hours of the day. 

• Steep the cut flowers in lukewarm water for a few hours. 

• Cut the stem at an angle to allow the sap to go up again, do this in water to avoid air penetrating the stem and to stop water going up it.

!: For picking and cutting flowers always use a well-sharpened instrument.   

• Remove the leaves that are at water level as they will rot and stagnate the water. 

• You can also use floral oasis for inserting and supporting foliage and flowers. You should ensure that it has been well soaked in water before using it.  

Some exceptions in flower arrangements

• For thick stems (lily of the valley, anemones, hyacinths) soak them for one night so that the creamy sap becomes flowing.

• For fibrous stems (chrysanthemums, asters…) split the base of the stem in two.

• For hollow stems (dahlias, lupins…) turn over the flowers, fill the stem with water and then plug it with a moist piece of cotton wool.

• For gladioli: remove the first and last bud if they are not opened up, as they will now never blossom.

Preservation of your flower arrangement

• Place your arrangement in a place that is neither too hot nor too cold, and sheltered from direct sunlight. 

• To rearrange your flowers re-cut the stems under water with a well-sharpened instrument. 

• You can use a flower preservation agent (both disinfectant and nutritional), which is generally best mixed beforehand in lukewarm water. Alternatively, you can also use a few drops of bleach or an aspirin tablet (which are disinfectants) and lemonade or sugar (for nutritional benefits). 

• If you are using oasis, make sure that it has been well soaked. 

• If a rose droops its head, cut its stem under water, gently straighten the stem, then soak the whole rose in a bath of warm water (at 38°C/100°F).

• For flowers that have multiple buds, (gladioli, mimosas) don’t throw them out because some have withered! Simply take them out, cut the stem and you’ll bring them back to life.