Design Your Own Flower Arrangements

Supplies needed for your arrangement depend upon the type of container and the number of flowers in the arrangement. The following is a list of supplies and their functions:

• Florist's foam – Perfect for beginners, this green, spongy foam (commonly called oasis) can be cut to any size or shape.
  
  
  • Soak in water mixed with flower preservative for one hour or until foam is saturated.
    
    
  • Cut foam to fit snugly inside the container or cut the foam to fit on a small saucer.
    
    
  • Apply florist's adhesive clay on the bottom of the saucer and place the saucer inside or on top of the container.
    
    
  • Hold foam in place with crisscrossed strips of florist's tape that attach to the sides of the container.
    
    
• Small-mesh chicken wire – Use to hold stems in containers with large openings.
  
  
  • Form wire into a ball that is large enough to fill the inside of the container up to the lip of the opening.
    
    
  • If necessary, secure the wire in place with thin florist's tape. Weave the tape through the wire, crisscrossing over the opening of the container.
    
    
• Metal pinholder – Used in shallow containers by experienced flower arrangers, it resembles a small bed of nails. Pierce stems on spikes for firm holding.
  
  
• Marbles, pebbles or gravel – Use in a vase or bowl to hold or elevate stems. Use with arrangements placed directly in water.
  
  
• Florist's wire –Reinforce weak stems or use to form stems into a curve or twist. Insert end of wire in the base of the flower and wrap the wire around the stem at least halfway down.

• Saucer – Use to elevate arrangements and hold florist's foam.
  
  
• Florist's adhesive clay – Use to adhere a saucer or pinholder to containers.
  
  
• Florist's tape – Use to secure foam to a saucer or to create a grid on top of a container to hold flowers in place. Available in thick and thin widths.
  
  
• Hand pruning shears – Use to cut flower stems. Sharp hand pruning shears help prevent stems from being damaged when cut.
  
  
• Flower preservative – Use to extend the life of cut flowers.
  
  
• Ribbon – Use to decorate arrangements.

Your arrangements should express your individual sense of style, so don't feel intimidated by the volumes written on flower arranging. Arrangements can be as formal or casual as you like. Here are some basic elements to keep in mind, but remember rules are made to be broken:

• Before deciding on the colors of your arrangement, think about the color of the furnishings in the room and the background against which the arrangement will be placed, plus more importantly, the effect you want to create. If you are just beginning to arrange flowers, you may find it easier to start with one or two colors and foliage. As you become more experienced, graduate to multiple colors.
  
  
• Choose flowers and foliage with different textures to add more interest to your arrangement. Waxy foliage emphasizes velvety soft blooms. Aim for a mix of glossy and matte textures.
  
  
• With any design technique, balance is an important element. Some arrangements are tall and slender; others are stocky and bunched together. Make the arrangement proportionate to the container. In formal arrangements, the general rule is to keep the longest stem one and one-half times the height of the container for vertical arrangements and one and one-half times the width of the container for horizontal arrangements. For example, if your container is 8" high, your tallest stem would be 12" above the top of the container, and the total height of the arrangement would be 20". (Remember, if your stems are not long enough, you can build up an arrangement with florist's foam to achieve the desired height.)
  
  
• Choose the location of your arrangement to determine the shape, height and width.
  
  
  • If you make a dining room table centerpiece taller than 12", you might find it hard to carry on a conversation.
    
    
  • Make sure arrangements for an end table do not overpower the table lamp.

• Sharp knife
• Cup
• Florist's tape
• Florist's foam
• Spoon

A glass pitcher makes a beautiful container for an arrangement.

Choose a sturdy container for your flower arrangement and use your imagination. The container should complement and enhance the size and color of the flowers as well as the décor of the room. If the vase is too short, the flowers may droop. Below are a few suggested containers:

• Vases (all shapes and sizes)
  
  
• Small or medium decorative boxes
  
  
• Baskets (lined with plastic)
  
  
• Decorative tins
  
  
• Bowls
  
  
• Water pitchers
  
  
• Tea pots
  
  
• Clay pots
  
  
• Galvanized tin buckets or watering cans
  
  
• Mugs
  
  
• Cake plates and other shallow dishes
  

A pumpkin makes a festive container for a centerpiece.

Can't find a container to hold your arrangement? Use a pumpkin or melon to create a festive centerpiece.

1. Make sure the melon or pumpkin can stand upright. If not, cut the bottom off of the melon or pumpkin to make it level.
   
   
2. Protect your table by placing a small plate or wax paper under the melon or pumpkin.
   
   
3. Place a cup upside down on top of the melon or pumpkin, and trace around the edge of the cup. Or cut out a circle freehand.
   
   
4. Remove the cup. Use a sharp knife to cut out the circle.
   
   
5. Clean out the inside of the melon or pumpkin with a spoon and throw away the pulp.
   
   
6. Insert a block of florist's foam or a cup with a grid of florist's tape to hold the flowers in place.
   
   
7. Try a circular or fan arrangement in your new container.

The life of your arrangement depends upon the quality of the flowers and the care you provide.

• Before cutting or purchasing flowers, make sure that the stems and leaves are green and sturdy.
  
  
• When choosing flowers, check to see if the petals are rich in color.
  
  
• Before cutting the flowers, allow the flower heads to begin opening so the flowers can fully bloom.
  
  
• If you want to hold back the development of cut flowers for a few days, wrap the blooms in wax paper and keep them in water in a cool, dark place.
  
  
• If you want flowers to open quickly, place them in warm water and locate in a cool place for a few hours.

Harvest fresh flowers in the early morning or evening while the stems are full of moisture from the dew.

• Cut bulb stems at least 2" above the ground. Use sharp pruning shears to avoid crushing the stem.
  
  
• Place freshly cut flowers in a pail of warm water. Flowers absorb warm water quickly, helping to prolong their life.

Cut flowers should not be out of water any longer than absolutely necessary.

Once the flowers are brought home:

• Cut the stems at an angle under lukewarm water to prevent air bubbles from forming. Air bubbles in stems prevent the movement of water into the flowers.
  
  
• Place the flowers in room temperature water. If flowers are droopy, completely submerge them in warm water and place them in a cool place for two hours. Periodically check the flowers as times may vary based on the type of flower. The flower absorbs the water, which strengthens the stem.
  
  
• If you don't plan to use the flowers immediately, put them in water and place in the refrigerator.

After cutting the stems to the desired length, strip off all the foliage that would be underwater in the arrangement. Certain stems require special treatment:

• For woody stems, such as lilacs or forsythia, split the stem 3" vertically to ensure proper water absorption.
  
  
• For flower stems with milky sap, such as poinsettias or poppies, use a flame to burn the ends to prevent the pores from clogging with gelled sap. Hold the end of the stem over the open flame for no more than three seconds.

Water, light and heat are the three elements that make or break an arrangement. Here are a few things to remember before, during and after your arrangement is complete:

• Mix a flower preservative in the arrangement's water. Add fresh, room temperature water everyday. If not refreshed, the foam in the arrangement dries out and pulls water from the flowers.
  
  
• Don't place arrangements in direct sunlight or near heat/air sources for a long period of time.
  
  
• Mist flowers with cool water everyday.
  
  
• To control bacterial growth, remove wilting or decaying leaves and petals.

Professional florists use basic principles when arranging flowers. However, these principles are not steadfast rules. Be creative with your arrangements. Make the arrangement fit its surroundings. Decide how the arrangement will be seen from every angle.

Single Flower Arrangements

Good Idea:  For flowers with weak stems, make a hole in the foam with a skewer before inserting the stem.

Single flower arrangements can be either a single rose in a bud vase or a large cluster of the same flower in a vase. Small compact arrangements are popular and easy to create in short bowls or vases. Recommended flowers are daisies, violets, hydrangeas, begonias or carnations.

1. Cut water-soaked floral foam to fit inside the container with approximately 1" of foam extending up past the lip of the container. Or simply bunch up chicken wire and place in the mouth of the container.
   
   
2. Begin by inserting flowers at a downward angle around the edge of the foam to hide the holding material.
   
   
3. Continue working in a circle, packing flowers closely together until the foam is completely covered.

Single flowers can also be used in any shape of arrangement. The trick is to use varying lengths of the same flower and add foliage as filler if desired.

Fan Arrangement The fan arrangement is one of the most traditional shapes. The basic shape for a fan arrangement consists of five long, pointed flowers and other shorter foliage and flowers. A wide mouth vase makes an attractive container for a fan arrangement. Placement of flowers. A fan arrangement. Prepare your floral foam by soaking it in a water and flower preservative mixture before cutting it to fit the container. Always start from the center of the holding material and work to the outside of the container. Insert the foliage first to cover the holding material and the rim of the container. Place the first flower (A) upright in the center. Place two more flowers (B and C) on each side, angled upward. Place the last two longer flowers between the first and second pair at a 45° angle (D and E). Fill in the arrangement with shorter flowers and foliage, working outward. Step back from the arrangement. Make any adjustments necessary for continuity.

Circular Arrangement The basic shape of a circular arrangement consists of five long flowers, just like the fan arrangement. The only difference between the two is that flowers B and C are inserted at a 90° angle at the top of the container's rim. Insert round flowers, such as carnations or cosmos, downward to cover the rim. Complete the arrangement all the way around the container. A wide-necked pitcher or a teapot makes a great container for a circular arrangement. Placement of flowers. A circular arrangement.

Triangular Arrangement The steps for a triangular arrangement are the same as the fan arrangement except flowers D and E are shorter than flower A. Use pointed or rounded flowers for D and E. Fill in the center with round flowers. Placement of flowers. A triangular arrangement.

Placement of flowers. A vertical arrangement. Vertical Arrangement Vertical arrangements are based on one long, pointed flower, bud, or foliage (A). Surround the single flower with two or three pointed flowers graduated in size (B, C and D) to form a narrow arrangement. Build up the center with round flowers. Place a round flower with the largest bloom at the rim of the container to balance the height of the tallest flower. Vertical arrangements work well in tall vases with narrow openings.

L or Inverted T Arrangement Start the arrangement by raising the holding material above the container's rim. To elevate the arrangement, make the holding material extend at least 2" above the rim of the container or place a saucer on top of the opening to hold water-soaked floral foam. Secure with florist's tape. When placing flowers, think of the arrangement as a winding staircase. Start with the tallest flower and work down to the base. Placement of flowers. An inverted T arrangement. The height of the longest pointed flower (A) should be equal to or greater than one and one-half times the vase height. Insert the longest flower in the middle of the holding material. Add flowers or foliage shorter than the longest flower (B, C and D). Cut round or pointed flowers shorter than D. Insert the flowers (E and F) at a 90° angle on both sides to form the base of the T. For an L-arrangement, insert the flowers horizontally on the right side of the center flower. Add four shorter round flowers at a 90° angle to fill in the base of the T on each side or the L on the right side. Add different round flowers of graduating lengths to fill in the vertical shape. To balance the arrangement, fill in any holes along the base with foliage or other round flowers.

Horizontal Arrangement Horizontal arrangements are perfect for a basket, baking dish, cake plate or short bowl. They are often used as dining room and coffee table centerpieces because the arrangement is low and will not get in the way of conversation. If you choose to place your arrangement in a basket, line it with plastic and use water-soaked foam as the holding material. Placement of flowers. A horizontal arrangement. Place the holding material in the container. Position a short flower (A) in the center. Add longer pointed flowers horizontally (B and C) on the sides. Form an oval shape using shorter, pointed flowers or foliage (D through G). Bunch small flowers around the edge, positioning them in all directions so the design can be viewed from any angle. Fill the middle with large colorful blossoms and foliage.

Fillers and foliage are as important to a flower arrangement as the flowers. Fillers tie the arrangement together and hide any holding material that may show. Use the following common fillers and foliage in your arrangement:

• Eucalyptus
  
  
• Queen Anne's Lace
  
  
• Moss
  
  
• Baker's Fern
  
  
• Baby's Breath
  
  
• Statice
  
  
• Broom Stem
  
  
• Mimosa

For fresh-cut flowers all year long, here are some suggestions. Check our plant guide for plants that are suited to your area.

To have fresh flowers for arrangements all winter long, try forcing bulbs.