Common Questions in the Floral World. Answered.

There are so many questions when you are designing with flowers that arise when you are in the moment. So I decided to start a running list of questions that I see being asked and provide answers to those questions. This article is intended to be a short but sweet version of a longer article, with information you can trust, because it is what I do in the professional world. I have learned a lot about floristry from trial and error, and from others who have taken the time to teach me. So let me pass on some knowledge to you.

What Can I Use Instead of Floral Foam?

There are a few good alternatives to floral foam. The most popular options are a tape grid, chicken wire, and floral frogs. You can essentially place anything with structure into your vase to help give your flowers support. But these three items are the best, and since they are made from non-organic material, they will not rot or mold on you. On top of that, chicken wire and floral frogs are reusable.

To learn more about some alternatives check out this article.

How Do You Use Chicken Wire in Your Flower Arrangements?

It is easy to use chicken wire in your floral arrangements. Simply crumple up a ball of chicken wire and place it into your vase. This will provide a multi-dimensional object for you to place your flower stems into. Chicken wire is strong and reusable. If you buy the green, plastic-coated version, it will not rust in the water.

To learn more about how to use it check out this article.

How Do You Cut Flowers for a Vase?

Cutting your flowers for a vase is easy. Simply hold the flowers next to the vase to determine how tall they should be, then cut the stems at a diagonal angle. This sharp cut will help the flowers to drink more water and stay alive longer.

If you want to find out what are the best tools for cutting flowers check out this article.

Does Floral Wire Rust?

Floral wire can rust if it does not have a protective coat on it. The green paddle wire will be more rust resistant as the green coating will prevent water from getting in contact with the metal.

How Much Water Should You Put in a Flower Vase?

As a good general rule of thumb, when adding water to a flower vase, you should always fill it to a little over three-fourths of the way to the top. The only time you should consider not filling it up this high is if there are leaves still attached to the stem of the flowers. These leaves should not touch the water as they will make your flowers wilt faster. You should consider removing this foliage from the stem so that you can fill your vase up with more water.

How Often Should I Change the Water in My Flower Vase?

We think it is best to change the water in your flower vase every 3 days. Fresh and clean water will help keep them living longer for you to enjoy. Remember to add flower food!

Do Dried Flowers Rot?

Dried flowers can rot or get moldy if they get exposed to water for a short period of time. Dried flowers usually have been preserved in some way using a chemical process. This process will keep them from rotting or molding in a dry environment. In fact, dried and preserved flowers can look beautiful for years!

But nevertheless, dried flowers can mold or rot, but only you if you water them on accident! You should never water dried and preserved flowers. If you do water them on accident, it is not the end of the world. You should remove them from the vase, and let them dry out. Once the stems and vase are dry you can reassemble them as normal. The key is to catch them before they begin to get moldy.

How Long Can Flowers Last Without Water?

Flowers should never be out of water for longer than an hour or two. Some flowers simply last longer than others without water. Some can last for hours with no water. But the problem with leaving your flowers out of water is that it can shorten their lifespan.
As a florist, there always comes a time when we need to transport the flowers from the flower market. This means they get wrapped up, placed in a car, and driven to the studio. This also means that their stems are not in water for 30 minutes to an hour. We have never seen any flowers get damaged from this transportation. Sometimes we feel bad about the extremely delicate flowers and rush to get those in water first. But with some flower food, they perk up and look great for their big event.

Why Do Flowers Smell Good?

Flowers smell good because they release fragrance into the air to attract different insects to help in the pollination process. It is part of the way they reproduce. We just get to benefit from this.

How Do I Get a Job In the Floral Industry?

The best way to get started in the Floral Industry is to start doing flowers on your own. Learn a little bit and practice doing some floral arrangements. Find some examples of work you would like to reproduce and do that. Build up some work in a portfolio and then look around for some entry-level jobs that you can apply for. You might even reach out to some local florists and ask.

How Do You Press Flowers?

Flower pressing is easy and fun to do. Simply take the flower you want to press and sandwich it in between two pieces of paper and place that in a book. Place another book on top of the book containing your flowers. The weight from the second book will help to press the flowers flat over time. After a few weeks, your flower will be dried and pressed.

If you would like to learn more about this process you can check out this article. It’s the last section.

Where Do You Put a Boutonniere?

A boutonniere should be attached to the lapel on the left side of the suit. This is the most common location worn by our grooms.

w.October 22, 20211 Comment