All about flowers & flower arrangingFLOWER ARRANGING TOOLS & CONSUMABLES
Luckily, floral art and floristry is such a creative pursuit, that the number of bits and pieces of equipment you can use, is limited only by your imagination. But there are some basic items that do make the whole process a whole lot easier than a good few decades ago, when pin holders and chicken wire were the most popular way of achieving stem support in a container. Apart from this metal netting being a bit rough on the fingers, it would usually result in a rather rusty mess, some time later down the track!
Floral foam
Invented by V L Smithers in 1954, floral foam has had an enormous influence on floral design over the years. A foam 'brick' is usually green, typically measures 23 x 11 x 8 cm, and can absorb up to 2 litres of water. It can be easily cut, saturates quickly with minimal drainage and because the stems stay firmly in place, can be used for arrangements in many styles. Foam should be gently placed in a container of water so it floats. It will sink as it absorbs water, taking only a minute or two. Never push the foam under the water as this will result in dry patches in the middle of the brick and defeat the purpose of keeping the stems in a wet environment. Although some people re-use the foam, it really is not a good idea from a hygiene point of view as it ideally needs to stay wet to be reusable. Fortunately, floral foam is not expensive.
Florist Knife
Most florists are trained to use a knife to cut flowers and foliage. They are sharp, resemble a paring knife and create a clean cut. Scissors and other cutters tend to crush the stem, reducing the uptake of water by the stem. A good quality penknife can also be used.
Florist Wire
Many florists buy bundles of short or long plastic coated wire. Available in different guages, they can be purchased in smaller quantities. Paper coated wires are usually used for other crafts. The guage of the wire depends on what flowers you are wiring. A higher guage (very flexible) is used for small flowers and delicate work. Lower guage wires are thicker & used for heavier botanicals (eg pine cones) and various mechanics (eg supporting candles).
Florist Tape
Florist tape is available in other colours, but green is most commonly used. It is made from plastic, and is self adhesive when stretched. It is used for wrapping flower stems when making things like buttonholes & wedding bouquets.
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Thorn / Leaf Strippers
Strippers are very useful items whether you a florist or hobby floral artist. The plastic variety is gentler on stems for stripping leaves, while the metal variety makes short work of removing thorns from roses.
Glue Gun
A very handy electrical tool for getting creative with your floral work, but also invaluable for other crafts too numerous to mention. They are available in a variety of sizes. Glue sticks are inserted at the trigger end. The glue heats up, and is released through the nozzle when the trigger is pressed. The glue is extremely hot and care should be taken to avoid getting burnt. 'Cold' glue guns are also available. My favourite is the type with an elongated nozzle, which allows access to hard-to-get-to places.
Flower colour sprays
Not essential, but great for adding subtle colour to fresh flowers, dried / silk flowers, fabric ribbon & accessories. Very helpful for colour coordinating especially for wedding work. The colour is translucent, so it doesn't cover up detail. Spraying also has the added benefit of reducing evaporation through the petals, making the flowers last longer. The added colour can also give more 'life' to flowers, most noticeably to those that are white or pastel. It is also dries very quickly.