How To Build An Inexpensive Floral Arrangement

Arrangements of fresh flowers, even from the grocery store florist, are expensive. Buying just a bouquet or bunch of flowers is less expensive and can be presented like an arrangement when in a vase. Having a few inexpensive vases and some ribbon on hand allows you to do this. Good size drinking glasses or regular glass vases are often available for a dollar at thrift stores.

Wash them well and add the packet of floral preservative that comes with the bouquet to clean, cool water. Clean the lower ends of the stems of leaves or loose plant material and cut the stems down to a size that will fill well into the height vase you have. (Always cut at least a half-inch off the end of flower stems for water absorption). Tying a ribbon around the vase, or making a bow to tuck into the flowers will add a finished look. You can use a long piece of wire or wood skewer to hold the bow up. Save ribbons from presents that you can reuse for this.

For actual arrangements, you can use a large mug, a teapot or a small basket. Line them with a zip lock bag to hold the water, etc. These can also be found at the thrift store. You will also need to buy floral oasis from the craft store. Cut what you have with a kitchen knife to a size a little larger than the container, large enough to extend an inch higher than the top of the container. If getting one piece into the top of the container is not possible, cut two or three smaller pieces to insert side by side and pack tightly. Soak the piece(s) in water for an hour and pack them into the container pushing tightly against the sides.

Start the arrangement with the largest flower, cutting the stem long enough to insert at least 3 inches into the foam vertically in the center top, and still be above the container as high as you want the overall arrangement to be. The height and width of the arrangement should be no more than double the height and width of the container; i.e. if the container is 6 inches high and 4 inches wide the overall arrangement should be no more than 12 inches high and 8 inches wide. Then cut the appropriate length of stem, allowing for the 3-inch insert into the foam, for 3 to 5 more stems. Insert some of them at an angle between the highest center flower and base of the arrangement, and some to be almost horizontal with the base of the arrangement.

Obviously, a larger container requires more flowers. However, a very nice arrangement can be done in the size of a coffee mug. Whatever the size, a pyramid shape or a dome shape is the goal. Fill in around the larger blooms with smaller flowers and then fill in more with something lighter, such as baby’s breath or other very tiny white flowered greenery and stems of leaves cut to the right length. Both of these usually come with a bouquet. However, if enough greenery did not come with the bouquet, some leaves from shrubbery in your own yard can be used. Adding a bow to the arrangement makes it complete.

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