Fresh flowers can instantly uplift the home, but without the right skills it can be hard to arrange a professional bouquet, causing it to look messy and untidy. A florist has shared the “simplest” way to ensure a bouquet of fresh stems looks “flawless” every single time, no matter what the flowers and all that is needed is a roll of sticky tape.
Alex Biggart of 123 Flowers explained: “Some people find it tricky to arrange their flowers to get the look they desire, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
“First, pick a vase to fit the number of stems in your bouquet. For a small arrangement you will need a slender vase but for something more extravagant you will require a wider receptacle.
“Then, trim your stems to the required height, making sure you cut the bottoms at an angle to ensure they can take in as much water and nutrients as possible.”
Cutting the stems at an angle will also ensure the stems don’t rest flat on the bottom of the vase, which obstructs their water intake.
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The expert also recommended picking up any leaves which fall below the water level to prevent water contamination. Once the vase is filled with water and the provided flower food, it is time to start the process of placing the stems into the water.
Alex added: “Take a piece of sticky tape and place it in a straight line across the middle of the top of the base. Now place another piece of tape in a row above it, making sure there is space in between.
“Keep doing this until you have rows of sticky tape at an equal distance across the top of the vase. Then create the same pattern vertically so you end up with a grid.
“Keep the sticky tape nice and tight so the ends don’t slip into the vase and once you are don’t you can trim the ends. Once you have created your grid you can get to work arranging the stems.
“Place a stem in each gap and watch your bouquet come together in perfect, evenly-spaced harmony. It is worth saving your statement blooms for the middle of the arrangement.”
Once this has been done, add the foliage around the edges of the bouquet to help add height and texture.”
Freshly cut flowers will often last anywhere between five and seven days, although they could last much longer if they are given the correct care.
This involves switching out the water regularly to avoid contamination, as well as avoiding the areas in the home where they could become scorched.
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Jade Robertson, Prestige Flowers, explained: “To make flowers last their full lifespan, they need good care, but it doesn’t take a lot of time.
“By following some basic tips, it’s easy to keep your foliage looking great. Cut flowers generally like to be kept at room temperature, which is between 18C and 22C.
“They don’t like heating elements such as radiators or portable heaters. By keeping flowers at a stable temperature, not too hot or too cold, they will grow and blossom at their natural rate, thus extending their lifespan.”
The expert also recommended keeping fruit bowls away from any cut flowers as they can actually end up shortening the lifespan of bouquets.
This includes bananas which release small amounts of ethylene gas, speeding up the maturation process, making flowers wilt much earlier.
Britons could also keep their stems fresher for longer along with the help of a 2p coin, according to the experts at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk.
They said: “Unknown to many, they contain natural antimicrobial properties, which prevent bacteria’s growth, which causes blossoms like tulips to dry up and wilt.”
Place the coin into the vase before adding the flowers, making sure to clean it first to remove any dirt and bacteria which may be on it.
Other methods involve using sugar and apple cider vinegar. The pros continued: “This cupboard staple [sugar] can be used as a preservative to keep flowers looking healthy for longer.
“Three tablespoons of sugar should be dissolved into one litre of warm water. When filling the vase, the freshly cut stems should be covered by seven to 10 centimetres of prepared water.”
