Basic Floral Design 3

Design Mechanics

A floral designer's success is based upon his knowledge and application of good mechanics as well as his ability to create beautiful arrangements. A florist's worse nightmare is to have an expensive arrangement fall apart in the customer's hands. The flowers used must look fresh-no dead edges on the rose petals, please! And the arrangement must be secure in a solid foundation. The florist must present the image of professionalism in every detail.

In order to insure the proper foundation for your arrangement, be sure to use the proper type of floral foam. For fresh flowers use a floral foam that can be soaked in water either before placing it in the container or afterward. The foam can be cut to fit any particular container, but be sure to leave space between the foam and the sides of the container. This is the water well, and this makes it possible to keep enough water in the container for the foam and the flowers.

Securing Floral Foam

One quarter inch waterproof tape can be used to secure the foam in most containers. Wider tape is for use on large containers and papier-mâché. Pan-melt glue also works well. Use the glue with dry foam, and once the glue cools, you can submerge the container and foam in water. If you are using a basket, it is a good idea to have a heavy plastic liner that fits well to hold the floral foam and water.

Pottery will not hold water unless it is glazed. You can seal the container or use a liner. You should always use a liner if the container belongs to the customer

When you are using clear glass and crystal, a piece of silver Mylar sheeting can make a perfect liner to hide the floral foam. Some designers use shredded hard foam of floral foam chips or sticks in containers, such as rose vases. Remember, hard foam does not absorb liquids; so if you are using fresh flowers, you have to leave enough space in the container for an adequate amount of water.

For silk and dried work, there are two types of foam: hard foam (Styrofoam ™) and dry foam. Both types can be cut to fit the container; however, many companies are now offering pre-cut shapes and sizes. As with wet foam, dry foam should be about ¾ inch above the lip of the container. Be careful not to get the foam too high, or your arrangement will be off balance. This type of foam can also be secured to the container with pan-melt glue, hot glue, or anchor pins attached in floral clay. Containers with dry foam tend to be light and may have to be weighted to prevent them from tipping over.

Corsage Mechanics

Flowers for corsages and bouquets are wired to eliminate bulky stems, and wiring also makes the stems flexible and easy to position. The gauge of wire used is determined by the weight of the flowers. Gauge #24 is for roses, carnations, and other heavy-stemmed flowers. Gauges #26 and #28 are for delicate flowers and fillers. Chenille stems may also be used to wire some types of flowers. The moistened chenille stem inserted into a flower stem provides a wicking action. A moistened piece of cotton taped to the stem works, also.

Wiring Techniques

There are many wiring techniques, and their use is determined by the type of flowers you are using.

1. The pierce method is used on flowers with a thick calyx beneath the flower head, such as roses and carnations
2. The insertion method is used for flowers with heads firmly fastened to the stem, such as asters
3. The hook method can be used with any flower that has a hard disc-like center, such as daisies or mums. It can also be used with a light gauge wire on individual florets, such as those of delphiniums and hyacinths.
4. The wrap-around method can be used on almost any kind of flower. It is most effective, however, on small flowers in clusters, such as baby's breath and statice.
5. The stitch method is used almost entirely for broad-leaf foliage, such as camellia, ivy, or salal
6. The hairpin method is used to wire multi-flowered stems or fern-like foliage when support is needed high on the stem
7. The splinting method is used primarily when creating a design that features the flowers' natural stems. Examples would be a hand-tied bouquet or a design in a foam bouquet holder. This method adds strength to the stems and allows them to be bent for design purposes.

Some flowers, such as orchids, gardenias, camellias, and small delicate flowers require special wiring techniques. Gardenias must be handled very carefully because they bruise easily.