Frequently Asked Questions

Purchasing Your Flowers

Wherever you’d like. I will always list where I purchase each week’s flowers (with prices!) in my posts. Some suggestions: Trader Joe’s, your local bodega, the farmer’s market, Central Market/HEB, Whole Foods, or grow your own.

Alternatives are listed in every post. The alternatives will be as close as possible to what was used, either in shape, color, and/or scent. I also choose seasonal and/or common flower varieties… no rare or location-exclusive selections here!

I note whether or not arrangements are pet friendly in every post. However, you should always check on your own, too. Please note that I do not check alternatives for pet safety. The ASPCA’s toxic plants guide is a good resource.

Prep & Care

Always trim your stems at an angle, under running water. This allows the flower’s first ‘breath’ be water versus air. Imagine if you dove into a pool, but you didn’t take a breath first! You might struggle until you reached the surface. Similarly, a flower will struggle until it reaches water.

You can also purchase special pruning shears, if you want. They are much easier to use than scissors. I like these from Amazon (non-affiliate link).

This truly depends on your vase. A stem height that is 1.5-2 times the height of your vase typically looks proportional. Most flowers can be trimmed at least 1-2”. Remember, you can always trim a little, see how it looks, and trim more… but you can’t undo your trim!

These tips apply to every post:

  • Trim your stems using the instructions above.
  • Keep your flowers submerged until you are ready to arrange. You can fill your sink or a temporary vase (a large mixing bowl or bucket works well!) with water to keep flowers hydrated as you’re working.
  • Pull off any leaves that will rest below the water’s surface. This helps prevent bacteria growth in the water.
  • Choose a clean vase. If your vase looks foggy or has residue from past contents, give it a good scrub.
  • Fill the vase with clean, room temperature (tap) water. Water that is too hot or cold may shock your flowers and cause early wilting.

This is really sad, isn’t it? When this happens to me, I feel as though I’ve let them down. Sometimes it’s just bad luck. Some tips:

  • Allow breathing room. Vases with small openings can crowd stems. If stems are too close together, your flowers may crush one another – or worse, mold may grow! If your vase becomes foggy within a day of finishing your arrangement, your stems are too close together.
  • Don’t place finished arrangements directly under an A/C vent. The dry air can dehydrate them.
  • Choose blooms that look extra fresh in the store. I look for stems that have closed buds, because that means they will bloom in my home! If the flowers have already bloomed completely or are losing color, moisture, or petals as you pick them up, they are probably past their prime.
  • Avoid dyed flowers. Sometimes, particularly at grocery stores, flowers are dyed. Especially around holidays. If you find yourself thinking, “Huh, I’ve never seen that color of hydrangea before…” – it’s probably dye!
  • Arranging flowers for a friend or party and want to keep them fresh until the big reveal? Build your arrangement and keep it in the refrigerator overnight. If it doesn’t fit, a cool and dark room works, too.

Sometimes, store-bought flowers include packets of flower food. I’ve found that flowers last just as long without it. But it can’t hurt!

Arranging Tips

  • Consider which way your arrangement will face. Will it be against a wall where only the front is visible? Perhaps it’s going on your coffee table or being given as a gift, visible from all sides. Place individual blooms where they can show off.
  • Are you displaying the arrangement in a functional or decorative space? Let’s say you’re making an arrangement for your dining table. If it’s too tall, your guests won’t be able to see one another! If the greenery is too long, it may accidentally dip into someone’s water glass. In this case, you may want to cut your stems shorter than usual and use a low vase. Now imagine you are creating an arrangement to greet guests in the entryway, no conversation or food to consider… in this case, the bolder, taller, wider the better! What a great opportunity for a compote or trumpet vase.
  • Think about daily life in that space… Lillies drop orange pollen, staining white linens. A happy dog may take out a coffee table arrangement with their tail. Maybe you’d like to freshen up your bathroom with flowers… but are you also burning a candle nearby?
  • If your arrangement looks funny and you can’t figure out why… it could be:
    • Too many pockets. An arrangement with too much blank space can look sparse or incomplete. Sometimes, the blank space is caused by selecting blooms that are too similar in size.
    • Too symmetrical. Yes, too symmetrical! Nature isn’t symmetrical, so a perfectly proportioned arrangement can appear sterile. Try randomizing placement or removing a few blooms to create odd numbers.
    • The flower varieties are too similar in size, color, or shape. For example, all white with no greenery.

If all else fails… set the arrangement aside and come back later. Sometimes, you’ve just been looking at it too long!

Any kind you like! I recommend a glass or ceramic vase. Plastic vases become foggy and discolored over time. Vases with wide openings are easiest to arrange with. For high traffic areas, the heaviest vase you have… bumps and brushes happen.

My favorite vases are secondhand. Better yet, ask a relative, friend or your local Buy Nothing group if they have any old vases to pass along for free. More suggestions: Facebook Marketplace, your local thrift store, museum gift shops, local pottery studios, ask your children to make one in art class. If you’re just getting started or have limited storage space, a Mason jar works well.

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