Once you’re ready to arrange flowers, it’s time to set up your workspace and choose flowers to work with.
Table of Contents
How to Set Up Your Workspace
First, find a spot that’s conducive to the often messy work of arranging flowers. This area should contain the following:
- Flat, counter-height work surface: A kitchen counter is an ideal place to work on your designs.
- Sink: A nearby water source is convenient for filling buckets and containers while prepping your flowers.
- Drawer or toolbox: Keep all your tools in one place and close at hand so you can be ready to use them whenever the opportunity arises.
- Empty buckets: Use these when prepping your flowers or storing them as you work. If you’re working with smaller or shorter flowers, keep a few small vases or old glasses or mugs nearby.
- Trash can: You’re bound to end up with a lot of scraps when you’re cutting flowers for arrangements.
- Adequate lighting: Make sure your workspace is well lit, either by sunlight or general task lighting, such as a desk lamp. Floral arranging often requires attention to small detail, and dim lighting can lead to eyestrain.
Also, don’t wear any nice clothes that you wouldn’t want to damage. Wear an outfit that can withstand water and stains from plant greens and pollen.
How to Choose Flowers
If you grow flowers in your own garden, you know the pleasure of walking outside and collecting blooms when they’re in season and at their freshest. But if you don’t have access to a garden, or if your favorite flowers are out of season, visit your local florist, nursery, or online shop to buy fresh blooms, and keep the following guidelines in mind.
How to Identify Fresh Flowers
When it comes to cut flowers, the fresher the better. Look carefully at the flowers you wish to purchase, and use the following rules of thumb to pick the best of the bunch:
- Choose flowers that have not yet bloomed fully so that they’ll last longer once you get them home.
- Look for flowers that are vibrantly colored and clean, not faded or browning.
- Leaves should be bright green, not yellow.
- Stems should be sturdy and unbroken.
- Roses should feel firm and be slightly closed.
- Tulips should be tightly closed.
- When choosing freesia, lilies, or orchids, look for a stem with one bloom that’s opening and several that are unopened.
The Best Cut Flowers
Some cut flowers naturally last longer than others. Especially popular and long-lasting cut flowers include:
- Alstroemeria
- Baby’s breath
- Carnations
- Chrysanthemums
- Daffodils
- Dahlias
- Daisies
- Freesia
- Lilies
- Orchids
- Roses
- Sunflowers
- Tulips
How to Prepare Your Flowers
To ensure that your flowers last, you need to prepare them carefully. In order to bloom, a flower must have the ability to draw water freely. If the stem has no access to water, the flower will begin to wilt and droop quickly.
- Lay your flowers down flat on your workspace. If you have a store-bought assortment, unwrap it first.
- Fill a bucket with cool or room-temperature tap water.
- Use a sharp knife to cut a few centimeters off of the bottom of each stem. Cut on an angle to encourage the stems to draw water. It’s recommended that you not use scissors, which can clamp the stem shut, preventing it from drawing properly.
- Remove any leaves that will end up submerged in water when the flowers are arranged. When they decompose, they can pollute the water.
- Place the freshly cut stems in water for an hour or so to rehydrate them before you start your arrangement.
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