Floral Arrangements - What Goes Where

There are available today many different floral arrangements, of all shapes and sizes which can be used in a wide variety of settings. As table decorations, wedding bouquets or fun party pieces, floral arrangements are a great way to express your feelings and create a very special atmosphere at an event. In addition floral arrangements can be designed for all tastes and budgets, small three bloom posies or exotic floral arches can equally express your individual style.

To get the best out of your floral arrangements you need to care them a little care and attention. Fresh flowers in particular need careful consideration if they are to remain in prime condition and even with this they will obviously last for a much shorter time than artificial floral arrangements. Fresh flowers need to be well watered, positioned away from direct sunlight and protected from temperature extremes. Artificial floral arrangements can last a life time if they are looked after properly, and this has lead to their even increasingly popularity, especially silk flowers which are not only enduring and beautiful but also incredibly natural looking.

If you decide to create your own floral arrangement, here are a few hints to bear in mind. Using florist foam will help you to arrange your design with more precision - green foam for fresh flowers and brown for artificial or dried flowers. Always soak the foam before inserting fresh flowers and try to ensure that the stems are in touching the foam at their base, otherwise they will wilt. It can be useful to cut a little v shaped notch in the top of the foam to allow you to top up with water. Try very hard to resist the temptation to reuse foam, since it will already have holes in it and so you may well be inserting your fresh stems into air pockets which will make them wilt.

Cut fresh floral arrangements can be made to last longer if cared for properly. It pays to use a clean container and remove all leaves which will be below the level of the water. Using cut flower food really can extend the life of your display. For floral arrangements that you want to keep for a while, such as home decorations, choose flowers that are in bud or just half open and you will then be able to watch them open into full bloom. For those displays which require immediate, short term impact such as wedding floral arrangements or funeral sprays, use flowers which are almost fully open.

While artificial floral arrangements need a lot less attention than fresh, bear in mind that they will do better if placed away from direct sunlight; and a short blast of the hairdryer can easily remove dust. If you are designing your own artificial floral display, you may need to put heavy pebbles, sand or shells in the bottom to stop it from toppling over and these will also have the advantage of camouflaging the foam. To achieve a natural looking display, think of how a particular flower would move in the wild and mould each stem in that way before adding it to your arrangement.

The vast majority of people however, while prepared to arrange a few flowers in a vase, find the thought of creating floral arrangements for special occasions like weddings just too daunting. Fortunately there are many professional florists who can design and create beautiful floral arrangements for you. It is however important to find the right florist, this can mean a little hard work, but the results will be worth it.

When choosing a florist, ask if you can look at examples of their work and see if they have designed floral arrangements in a style similar to your own. If this is not the case, it may be advisable to look elsewhere. When you do find someone you like, be sure to clearly tell them exactly what it is you are looking for, having pictures cut from magazines etc. can help with this. Inform them of the colors and general mood of the event, this applies especially to wedding floral arrangements which need to be in the same style as the brides dress and also match the colors of the bridesmaids and groom.