Top tips to becoming a flower arranging pro!
Flower arranging is something that looks like it should be pretty straight forward and simple, but there are some simple tips to follow to make sure you get the most from your flowers and the finished arrangement gives the effect you want.
1) Use clean vases.
Let’s start with the basics. It might sound obvious but making sure the vase you are using is completely clean doesn’t just mean the final arrangement looks better. A dirty vase can harbour bacteria from previous bouquets and these are not good for new flowers. We would recommend using bleach and diluted water, which is the most effective way to kill any bacteria (it is also the method of choice by professional florists).
2) Get snipping!
When the ends of flower stalks have been out of water for some time (in a bouquet arrangement for example) the ends effectively start to seal up. Putting them straight into a vase when you get home without cutting the bottom of the stems first means they wouldn’t be able to drink effectively, struggling to suck up any liquid. Make sure you cut all stems about one inch from the bottom on a diagonal cut. This is the best way to ensure a larger surface area for taking in water.
3) Make long lasting arrangements.
It might sound obvious but the shorter the stem, the less distance water has to travel to allow the flower to drink. For this reason, flowers with shorted stems tend to last longer. If you are creating an arrangement that you would like to last, bear this in mind and go for a fish bowl vase (which is much shorter) or create an arrangement using oasis (a water-absorbent block you can stick flowers into) which allows the stalks to be much shorter.
4) Consider buying the right kit.
Florists’ scissors have stronger blades than normal scissors and their tips are finer and less cumbersome than secateurs for small-stemmed plants. If you regularly make your own arrangements it could well be worth investing in a pair.
5) When to use foliage.
If you prefer a natural looking bouquet, start with green foliage from your garden and build out from there. Once you have added your flowers, you can use foliage again (preferably a different type and colour) to fill in any gaps.
6) How to choose colours.
This is probably the biggest challenge. Colour suggests emotions and can have a big impact on a room. For example, red is evocative of love, red and green together can remind us of Christmas, and yellow can evoke thoughts of Easter. Colour can be soft, gentle and calming, or warm and vibrant. It’s important to consider the style of the room your arrangement will be in, what time of year it is and the overall atmosphere you are trying to create.
Here is a quick summary of the type of colour combinations you can choose (which we hope will help you decide which shades to put together):
- Monochromatic - Hues, tints and tones of just one colour (eg. Red, cinnamon, rust)
- Complementary - 2 colours from opposite sides of the colour wheel (eg. Red and green, or blue and orange).
- Contrasting - 3 colours that clash with each other, that are neither monochromatic or complementary (eg. Green, violet and orange)
For more colour inspiration, follow our Instagram feed @keritheflorist
7) What type of arrangement to choose.
There are many types of floral arrangement you can easily make yourself with a bit of practice. You can use techniques such as wiring, hand tied designs or vase arrangements using floral foam. It’s relatively cheap to buy florist wire, oasis and ties online (try Amazon or eBay). If you feel a bit overwhelmed about how to start and would like some guidance on your creativity, we offer a range of courses through the year that cover all these techniques. You can read full details (including how to book) on the article below.
In summary, enjoy being creative! If you would like any advice or tips about which flowers to put together please pop into the shop to see us.