Conditioning of Flowers

IT REFERS TO PRPEPARATION OF CUT PLANT MATERIAL FOR

PROLONG LIFE, FILLING OF STWM WITH WATER & PREVENTION
FROM WILTING.
1. Plant material should be cut slant either early in the morning or after
sunset. At this time they are crisp & filled with moisture
2. Flowers should be cut before they reach maturity
3. Use sharp pruning knife or florist scissors to make clean slanting cut, to
cause minimum damage to soft duct carrying water to the stem
4. Make slanting cut as this helps in exposure of larger surface area
5. Remove all leaves & thorne from flowers as they have shorter lives
then most
6. Shape a leaf to its original proportion if trimming is required
7. Do not put flower near a fruit bowl especially apple pears or plums.
They emits ethylene gas while ripening which cause wilting of flowers
8. Fresh flower arrangement should never be placed under direct draught
from fan or window
9. Listerine, ammonia, aspirin or salt added in small amount to water
slows down bacterial growth thus prolong the life of flowers.
10.
Use clean container to prevent premature fouling or bacterial
growth
11.
Prolong freshness of flower arrangement by spraying luke warm
water through mister
The following group of ingredients & aids are essential for flower arrangement
1 Mechanics: These are items used to keep the flowers, foliage & stem
in place within the container. It should be fixed securely & hidden
from view. The various mechanic used are as follows.
o

Floral foam: It is also known as oasis. It is cellular plastic material.

There are two types available

Green foam : Fresh plant material & popular shapes available in round
& blocks.

Grey/ Brown foam: used for dry plant material or artificial display.

Chicken wire: Also known as wire mesh or wire netting. It proffered

for tall & heavy stems.

Pinholder: Also known as Kenzan. A series of sharply pointed pins

are firmly held in a solid lead base. It holds heavy & thick stem
securely. Avoid iron ones as they rust in water.

Prong : Simplest type of floral foam holder/anchor. It is small plastic

disc with four vertical prong.

Adhesive clay. Also known as oasis fix. It is non setting clay in strip
forms

2 Equipments: This includes tools & aids to ensure that a satisfactory

arrangement of plant material is created within the container. Eg. Buckets :
Vital equipment used for conditioning of flowers.
Florists Scissor
Mister: Hand held spray bottle to create a fine layer of mist on flower
arrangement.
Watering can
Secateurs: Used to cut through thick & woody stems.
Floral Tape: used to cover artificial stems
Wires: Used to support drooping stems & to bind clumps of blooms.
Knife / Blade
Turn table : Used for making round arrangements
3 Containers: These are receptacles ( hollow ware used to hold object) that
hold the flower arrangement. The may or may not be hidden by plant
material. Eg,. Vases made of metal, plastic, potery etc. Willow & bamboo
baskets, Bowls& trays etc.
4 Bases; An object that is placed underneath the container to protect the
surface or/ & support or add beauty to the display.Table mats, tree sections,
wood bases, stone bases, oriental bases.
5 Plant Material: This can be divided into three basic types
Line Material: Consist of tall stems, flower spikes, bold leaves used to create
the basic frame work eg. Golden rods, bird of paradise.
Dominant or focal point material : normally consists of bold bloomed
flowers providing centre of intrest. Eg . Roses gerbera, lilies etc.
Fillers or secondary material: Consists of smaller flowers or all sort of
leaves that cover the mechanics , edges of flower & also provide added
intrest.
6 Accessories: These are non plant material included or placed around the
arrangement It may be functionsl or decorative. Eg. Bronze lamps, miniature
dolls, candles, shels carved object artificial glitters. Etc.

STYLES OF FLOWER ARRANGEMENT

WESTERN / TRADITIONAL
These are mass arrangements. They are often elaborate, with attractive
containers. Usually the arrangements have some kind of symmetry.
Japanese / ikebana
Simple, sober arrangements highlighting line, rhythm and mood. These
arrangements frequently have a religious symbolism that dates back to
the origins of this art.
FREESTYLE
Is based on the creativity of the individual, using a blend of both Western
and Japanese
ABSTRACT
Are based on structural designs and geometrical patterns.

Western Shapes
The Triangular Arrangement

 The Round Bowl

The Oval Shape

The L Shape

 The S/ Hogarth Shape

The Crescent Shape

JAPNESE/ORIENTAL FLOWER ARRANGEMENT

The Japanese lay great emphasis on the art of flower arrangement. People in
Japan use flowers to symbolize seasons or particular occasions. In all their
arrangements, a single principle is followed, and the most striking characteristic is
that they give the impression on naturally growing plants.
IKEBANA literally means making flowers live in Japanese. In all such
arrangements, Heaven, Man and Earth are represented by means of three main
branches. SHIN, the main spray, is the highest and symbolizes heaven; it ends on
central axis of the vase. This stem should be 1 -2 times the height of the
container. Soe, the second highest stem, represents man. It provides width to the
arrangement and is about three-fourth the height of the tallest spray. This stem
forms an angle of about 45 degree with the rim of the container. HIKAE, the lowest
spray, denotes earth. This branch is about half as tall as the one signifying man
extends very little beyond the diameter of the container, forming an angle of 115
degree with the rim of the container. It is placed opposite the branch signifying man
and is used to balance the arrangement.
The Japanese use tall vases as well as low bowls. Tall vases are usually made
of bamboo, bronze, or pottery. For holding flowers, metals holders are used in vases
and bowls.
Another important aspect in their arrangements is that they always use an
odd number of flowers, as they believe that odd numbers are lucky as well as more
aesthetic. There is no over crowding & all plant material are seen as single units
but as part of whole
Ohara: One of the famous school of flower arrangement
Moribana style: informal arrangement in shallow container in which pin holder is
used as mechanics
Hikae Style: When a tall vase without pin holder used
Seika style: Formal arrangement with strict rules governing the length & angle of
stems .It is basically triangular arrangement usually stiff so that all stems arise from
single point
Ukibana style: floating arrangement
Morimano: basket arrangement
Nagerie: Classiocal arrangeemt vase with a flowing & natural effect