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Christmas Cactus
HELP! I have a Christmas cactus...
Flower Arranging Basics
© By Deborah S. Tukua
www.hollycreekbooks.com
Whether it's Valentine's day, your birthday or a special occasion, flowers do more than symbolize affection. They can add vibrancy to your home and a glow of hospitality.
Just follow these easy tips to accentuate your display.
Design Considerations:
Placement~
- Before you arrange the flowers, try placing the flowers in various kinds and sizes of containers. You may also want to experiment with different placements: on the table, buffet, alcove or mantel.
- When placing a flower arrangement on a dining or kitchen table, make sure the height of the flowers in the container will not block your guests from seeing one another when seated.
- Arrangements placed in an alcove or niche adds interest to the architectural aspects of the home and should be bold and dramatic to accentuate these features.
Architecture and Interior Decorating Style of the Home~
- Since the architecture of a house often influences its interior decor, it makes sense to build on that style with your containers and flower arrangements.
- Modern and industrial style homes and apartments look best with simple shaped, sleek containers. Polished metal vases or containers in primary colors are well suited for a modern style room.
- For a country or casual style room start with natural containers such as baskets, wood boxes, galvanized metal containers, chintz fabric covered vases, milk glass or simple glass, pottery or ceramic jugs.
- Containers for a formal presentation would include: china or crystal vases or a Grecian style ceramic urn. Formal rooms are well suited for elaborate, ornate presentations.
- A vertical floral arrangement lends a formal mood while a horizontal floral arrangement appears more relaxed and casual.
- Let the room’s color palette dictate your color choices. Determine the three main colors used in the room and select a container and flowers that will complement them.
Arranging the Flowers and Foliage~
· Now that you’ve determined your placement, color choices, your container and the style of your room, it’s time to arrange the flowers.
-For greatest appeal, the flowers should be at least a third taller than their container but not more than two thirds taller.
· Cut a block of floral foam to fit in the base of the floral container, unless you are using a clear vase. Floral foam is available where floral design supplies are sold and will keep your arrangement sturdily in position.
· Consider how the arrangement will be viewed to determine the fullness and height of the design.
· An urn of flowers placed in a niche will only be viewed from the front. For this type of design, place the tallest flowers in first, toward the back. Work the middle height stems in next, and lastly, position the shortest toward the front of the arrangement.
· For a symmetrical balance of color and design, group the flowers to mirror themselves on the left and right sides of the arrangement.
· Remove all the leaves on the portion of the stems that will rest underwater in the container. Recut the stem ends on a slant. This will help the flowers stay fresh longer.
· For ease in arranging flowers, handle daisies and other slender stemmed flowers in sprays of three to five flowers. Twist a bag tie around the spray of stems. Then cut the stems to even them at the desired length if needed. The spray lets the flowers show without crowding and is firmer than a single stem for pushing down into the floral foam.
Enjoy your flowers.
