A Guide for Dummies to Flower Arrangements

Filling your home with fresh flowers always seems like a great idea. A fresh bouquet can bring life to your home during the dreary winter months and can fill a room with scent.

To learn how to give homemade arrangements a more professional edge, we headed to a Beginner Vase Arrangement Course at Vida Flores the flower school for practical teaching.

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NUMBER OF FLOWERS

In the world of floristry, there is an unwritten law that you should only use an odd number of flowers in your arrangements.

Davina Prankerd from Vida Flores said that you don’t have to stick to this rule strictly.

“If two or four stems of the same type of flower look gorgeous in your arrangement, then go for it,” Prankerd said. “Remember to do what works best for you.”

FOLIAGE FOR FOLIAGE

“Look around and look for foliage in your garden with different colors and textures rather than just creating a flower arrangement,” said Prankerd. “Don’t rely on the foliage as this can make an arrangement nice and interesting and can be a boon during the winter months when flowers are more expensive.”

CUT YOUR STEMS

Before starting your composition, cut the stems of your flowers at a 45-degree angle. This will increase the area of ​​the stem for water intake and keep your flowers hydrated for longer.

You should also remove any foliage that will fall below the waterline, as wet greenery can cause bacteria to grow and shorten the lifespan of your flowers.

THE SPIRAL TECHNIQUE

Your arrangement doesn’t have to be in the vase. Creating an arrangement by hand using the “spiral technique” allows you to refine your flower placement and create a neat end product before you commit to the final cut.

By turning the bouquet slightly in the same direction each time you add a flower or a stem of foliage, you create a beautiful spiral of stems that will make the bottom of your arrangement just as beautiful as the top.

THE TIP OF THE RIBBON

A simple trick to arranging your flowers simply and making the arrangement look full and lush is to create a grid on the top of the vase using clear tape and fill in the holes with your flowers and foliage.

Note: Be sure to wipe down the vase before applying the tape, as this will ensure it holds in place.

TURN YOUR VASE

Prankerd said it’s easy to get attached to one side of an arrangement. Make sure you don’t have a one-sided arrangement by rotating the vase as you go and filling in any holes you meet.

CHANGE WATER REGULARLY

Prankerd said the best way to ensure the longevity of your arrangement is to change the water they sit in regularly and recut the stems to allow them to absorb more water.