Whether you purchase a loose bunch of flowers from your local florist or pick them from your own garden, cut flowers should be conditioned to prolong their vase life.
Conditioning is a floristry term that involves preparing each individual flower correctly before you place it inside a vase of water. This increases the longevity of the bunch and gives you value for money.
Before you arrange the flowers, select the right size vase for your bouquet. The vase should complement the arrangement, not overpower it and colors shouldn’t clash. Large bunches of flowers need a vase with a wide neck so the stems aren’t cramped or crushed inside. Use a tall vase for long-stemmed roses and gladiolus.
A flat glass bowl can be used to float roses, daisies or other flowers with shorter stems. Add tealight candles and flower petals for an interesting display on your coffee table.
How to Prepare Florist Bunches
- Remove leaves on the section of stem that will be submerged in the water.
- Place the stem under water and cut off a one inch section from the base. Use a sharp knife and make the cut at an angle. This keeps the veins open and allows the plant to take up water. Cutting under water prevents air from being drawn into the stem. Air bubbles prevent water from getting to the flower head and your blooms will wilt quickly.
- Condition your flowers for their new home. Arrange them loosely in bucket and leave them in a dark room for a few hours to allow air to circulate around them.
- Wash the vase in a solution of white vinegar and water to kill bacteria that may have built up around the sides.
- Fill up the vase two thirds of the way up with tepid water.
- Add cut flower food to the water to nourish blooms. If you don’t have the right product, use a few teaspoons of sugar.
- Arrange the flowers in the vase before placing them in the right spot in your home.
- Never put flowers near appliances that generate heat or in direct sunlight.
- Replace the water daily.
How to Prepare Garden Flowers
- Fill a bucket with warm water and take it into the garden with you. Stand flowers in the water after you have cut them.
- Cut flowers in the early morning when they are full of moisture. Never cut flowers on a hot day.
- Remove the blooms as if you were pruning the plant. Snip off whole stems at their junction with the main stem. This will leave your garden plants looking tidy and give you a good stem length for your vase.
- Keep the stems under the water and make a slanted cut about one inch from the base of the stem.
- Condition and arrange as you would a florist bunch.
The copyright of the article How to Care for Cut Flowers in Flower Arranging is owned by Gina Hartoog. Permission to republish How to Care for Cut Flowers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Sep 23, 2008 4:15 PM
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