subject: The Right Floral Supplies For The Right Job [print this page] There are a lot of things a florist has to consider. Flower matching, ribbon matching, silk or real flowers, candy or real flowers, the type of display and many other things are just scratching the surface of floral design. The right ingredients can make or break a flower arrangement, but the right floral supplies can help a florist create some real masterpieces no matter what medium they work in.
Florist's foam is the starting block for most floral projects. For real flowers wet foam is used: a spongy material designed to hold water and keep the flowers in place. It comes in a variety of grades, each one slightly different, with softer foams for more delicate flowers.
There are a couple things you should keep in mind when you use foam. First, you should set the foam just higher than the vase for the arrangement to make it easier to work with. Wedge it in pretty tight so it will stay in place even if water is added.
A good craft saw should also be on your list of necessary floral supplies. This is the easiest way to deal with and shape your foam. If you don't have a craft saw, however, you can make a kitchen knife or some wire work, but they aren't the ideal choice. Either way, be prepared to get covered in foam shavings.
But what if the arrangement is in a clear container? Saturated thick foam isn't the most attractive thing to look at. A metal frog is going to be a better choice. They are trickier to work with, but ideal in a clear container. To fill up the rest of your vase, fake gemstones and small rocks transform into floral supplies, as long as you're careful not to crush the stems.
Obviously, flowers are generally displayed in a vase. However, among the list of floral supplies are other less common holders. Small decorative buckets, long planter box-containers, parfait glasses, and anything the creative mind can imagine become floral supplies in the hands of a master florist.
But the most important of floral supplies are-let's face it-the flowers. Flowers can be bought just about anywhere, and a bouquet can be arranged into a floral project; the grocery store, a gas station, an actual florist, or in bulk from an online outlet are just a few places to find your flowers. A florist learns which flowers match each other, which colors to use for which occasions, and how to arrange the flowers for best appearance.
It can be tricky to pull all these components together to create a quality arrangement. To a florist, every detail counts. The best thing you can do for yourself is take the time to learn about your chosen medium, try out some different options, and always keep quality floral supplies nearby.
