Making an attractive bouquet is easier with the help of special supplies. At nurseries, hardware stores, and florists, you can equip yourself with the items that professionals use to arrange flowers.

One of the basics is florist’s foam. This lightweight, spongy material holds water and keeps flowers in place. It comes in several grades: the softer ones are particularly good for flowers with delicate stems. You can buy the reusable foam at some craft supply shops or from a florist; a 4- by 9-inch block costs 80 cents to $1.25.

If you have a shallow container like the one shown above, it’s often easier to make an arrangement if the foam is slighly higher than the vase. This allows you to angle the flowers easily and gives you more latitude with short-stemmed flowers. To hold the foam in place, use two strips of transparent or green waterproof tape as shown above right. Apply the tape to dry surfaces.

If you are using the foam in the bottom of a tall vase, cut the piece so that it wedges tightly into the vase; otherwise, the foam will bounce to the surface even when it’s saturated. A craft saw eases the job of cutting the foam, but a kitchen knife will also do the trick. Some professionals use wire to cut the foam.

Traditional frogs
Heavy metal frogs, like the needle and grid types shown above, range in diameter from 1/2 inch to 8 inches (the larger ones aren’t widely available). Although trickier to work with than foam, they’re a more attractive choice for clear containers. In general, the needle holder allows more flexible positioning than the grid. Floral clay helps stabilize both kinds.

Stones or glass marbles give an attractive effect in glass containers, but make sure they don’t crush the stems.

For long-lasting bouquets
To extend vase life, use sharp shears to cut the blooms. Pick them in the early morning or evening when they’re not stressed. Before arranging, fill a broad bowl with water and recut the bottom inch off each stem while holding it under water. Immediately transfer the bloom to your vase. Either add a commercial preservative to the water or mix one part lemon-lime soda (not a diet type) to two parts warm water.

Photo: To dampen foam, let it sink on its own. Pushing down causes the foam to capture air bubbles, without speeding saturation

Photo: Flower-arranging supplies: 1. Florists‘ foam 2. Craft saw 3. Waterproof tape 4. River stones and glass marbles 5. Floral clay in block and roll 6. Needle and grid frogs 7. Shears 8. Flower preservative

Photo: To hold stems in position, she uses a block of florist’s foam that’s taller than her container. The foam is stabilized by waterproof tape attached to plastic liner inside basket.

Source: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-4292529.html

The decision to pursue a career in the floral industry is one that can prove extremely rewarding. Florists not only make a good living, but are able to work with the finest products nature has to offer. Additionally, there are a variety of niche careers available within the field to those interested. Perhaps one of the most lucrative positions is that of the online florist. In this article, we will outline just how to start your own online flower business.

Step 1 – Begin by setting up an online merchant account that will allow you to process credit cards online. Many of these companies make it simple to sign up by filling out an online application, which includes the business name, contact info, refund policy, bank account specifics, and both employee ID and social security number.

Step 2 – Put together a selection of arrangements and photograph them for your online portfolio for potential customers to view. It is important to be meticulous in exactly how the arrangements appear in the photos. This is due to the fact that customers will have only photos to rely on when making a decision concerning whether or not to order. Consider taking multiple angle shots of each and upload them to your website.

Step 3 – Outline your prices for each arrangement and input the information into your merchant account. Most online florists will provide codes or graphics to place on your site. Simply place the code with the corresponding product on your site.

Step 4 – Advertising! Make your name known. Take out ads online and in various print media the caters to your customer base. Research advertising companies who are able to help in purchasing large quantities of ads in order to reach the largest number of customers possible. As you are running an online business, make sure you make the website information the focal point of your ad.

Step 5 – Don’t let your orders build up. Process all orders as they come in. Orders should run through your email box. If not, make sure to set this up through your online merchant. As orders are received, make note of the date in which the customer wants the arrangement to be received and overnight ship them the day before. Keep in mind that your products have somewhat of a short life span and should be handled accordingly. Get in touch with a wholesale flower supplier and arrange for regular orders in order to cater to your customer base.

Step 6 – SELL SELL SELL!!!

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Florists—Building-Your-Online-Flower-Shop&id=4629150

Hand Bouquet Of Yellow & Red Gerberas

Let your love speak forth with this handful of enchanting fresh gerberas in all the most alluring colours to win her over.