In a water-filled basin or bowl submerge flower stems, and cut them diagonally with scissors. This simple step will help your flowers absorb cut flower food, while eliminating stem-clogging bacteria. Feed Your Flowers?Always start with a clean vase and add a packet of cut flower food to warm water. |
Cut all flowers and foliage to the same length, leaving several stems an inch or two longer for use in the middle of the arrangement. Starting from the middle of the foam, and working outward in a circular fashion, create a "green foundation" by inserting foliage. |
DON'T combine flowers which do not naturally blend well. Consider the morphology, texture, as well as the color. For example, bold, angular, shiny tropical flowers such as bird of paradise do not blend well with softer, delicate, ruffled flowers such as sweet peas. DO condition the flowers by cutting the stems diagonally under water. This prevents air bubbles from forming that can block water from being drawn up into the flowers. |
