Floral Design Tips - Part 2

For our second installment of Tips and Tricks, let's discuss alternatives to floral foams, which is a design trick I try to avoid as much as possible. It's sponge-like substance that retains water and is porous so the flower stems are easily inserted. They're popular because they hold flowers securely for transport and work in a variety of container shapes.

above photo from www.wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas.com

However, there are many terrible things about it:

1. harmful to the environment (petroleum-based and doesn't ever decompose)
2. carcinogenic and inhaling the dust that comes off the dry foam should be avoided
3. time-consuming to use because they have to be properly soaked in water first and then taped into containers
4. flowers can get clogged up and then can't drink water (in fact, some flowers hate them, like tulips, sunflowers and hydrangeas)
5. costly because unlike the floral frogs, which can be used repeatedly, foams are a one-time use only product 

Because of all these cons, I only use them when I don't have any other options. Instead of foam, here are mechanics I like to use:

When using a low and wide vessel, floral frogs work well. I love that they're reusable and don't take that long to glue onto the vase.  

photo from rootstoblooms.com

Chicken wire is another option.

photo from rootstoblooms.com

A grid of waterproof tape on the mouth of the vase (as discussed here).

Stay tuned for more tips and tricks in the future!

Flower of the Month: Hydrangea

Welcome to another installment of Flower of the Month! For this month, let's highlight the beautiful summer/early fall flower, hydrangeas! These days, they are blooming everywhere in the neighborhood. I think most florists have a love/hate relationship with them. They wilt easily and need additional prep work to last. But with their large, round blooms, hydrangeas are gorgeous as a base flower in arrangements. They provide a cushion for other flowers in place.

Below are some hydrangea-specific conditioning tips I've learned in the past:

1. As with other flowers, cut stems in an angle. But I also cut up the center for the stems for additional water absorption. Hydrangeas LOVE water (in fact, hydrangea translates to "water barrel" in Greek). 
2. Revive wilted hydrangeas by submerging them in water for a few hours. Fill a tub or deep bucket with tepid water and then place the flowers lying down in the water. As mentioned above, they love water and need to drink from the top, too.  
3. Believe it or not, alum, the spice, is a hydrangea's best friend. Sometimes when you cut hydrangeas, they form a sticky substance over the cut that prevents the flower from drinking water.  Alum prevents that sticky substance. After cutting the stem, immediately place the bottom 1/2″ of the stem in the alum and then arrange as usual. This spice does turn the water dark, so it's best to use an opaque vase when making an arrangement.

at the flower market

at the High Line

a large scale arrangement with lace cap hydrangeas I made at FlowerSchool NY

Tips for lasting flowers

Fresh flowers can definitely cheer up the bluest of moods and add some life and warmth to a room. Their beauty, freshness, aroma and the fact that they are only in that vase for a short time reminds you to enjoy them while you are fortunate enough to have them around. Here are some tips to ensure your flowers stay fresh as long as possible:

1. Change water every 24 hours to discourage bacterial growth. Nothing kills flowers faster than having to drink dirty water. To change water, gently lift the flowers up, dump the old water and then put new water in the vase. 
2. Remove any flower from the arrangement that have faded so it does not contaminate the other flowers. 
3. Keep it away from direct sunlight, excessive heat, televisions, appliances or heating or cooling units, which give off heat and wilt flowers. 
4. If possible, re-cut stems with a sharp floral knife or clippers every other day. When trimming flowers, cut stems at a 45 degree angle. This exposes the greatest surface area of the stem and allows the flower to absorb as much water as it can. 
5. Be sure that there is no foliage at or below the waterline as those leaves will decay and cause the growth of bacteria. 
6. Avoid placing flowers beside fruits or vegetables as they give off ethylene, which is a gaseous hormone (not harmful to humans) in the plant that induces the flower to drop its petals and become a fruit.

Treat yourself with some flowers today!