Volume 2, Issue 39 August 2006
Roses - Floral Design Care Tips
Hello Dear Subscribers,
In this newsletter, we have tips for caring for and arranging roses.
Roses are the most universally loved flowers.
Roses are used in all types of floral arrangements, from a single rose in a bud vase to large mass arrangements, centrepieces, gift boxes, tributes and wedding designs.
Roses look wonderful used in traditional and modern floral arrangements.
There are literally thousands of different varieties, ranging from tiny miniature roses to large full roses.
Roses come in almost every shade imaginable including white, pastels such as pale pink and soft peach, bright colours such as yellow and orange and deep tones such as dark burgundy.
Red roses are traditionally used to say "I love You".
Roses are ideal for weddings, because they come in so many shades, that it is relatively easy to match the colours worn by the bridal party. Roses are generally available year round. Roses can be in short supply in Winter, but this is not a problem, as they are flown in by air from other countries all around the world.
Roses are named after famous people, and it is considered a great honour to have a rose named after you.
People who have had a rose named after them include Queen Elizabeth, President J F Kennedy and Barbra Streisand.
Roses can be arranged in a vase on their own or with foliage such as leather fern, ivy or eucalyptus gum. Using foliage will make the arrangement look fuller and will help hold the rose stems in place.
When you receive a bunch of roses or pick roses from the garden, there are a few tips to help them stay fresh for the longest possible time.
- Buy or pick roses when they are half open. Very tight buds may never open, and the petals may fall after a day or two with roses that are picked when they are too open.
- Carefully remove any damaged outer petals by holding the base of the petal between your finger and thumb and gently lift the petal out.
- If just the edges of a petal are damaged, you can carefully trim off the damaged part with a pair of sharp scissors, just inside the outer edge of the petal carefully following just inside the petal for a natural look.
- The flowers will have the maximum life if you re - cut the stems under water. To do this, fill a deep bowl or sink with water. Hold the ends of the rose stems under water on an angle and cut about 5cm (2") from the ends of the stems on a slant with a sharp pair of cutters or a knife.
A small drop of water will cling to the end of the stems and help prevent air bubbles forming that can shorten the life of the flowers. - Quickly remove the lower leaves from the bottom third of the stems. Leaves standing under the water line will pollute the water. It will become cloudy looking and the flowers will not last nearly so long.
- Place the flowers immediately in a bucket half filled with water, preferably with a flower preservative added to the water, and allow them to have a long drink for at least 4-5 hours before arranging them. Flower preservative are usually available at garden centres.
- If using florist foam, soak it in water for a couple of minutes and secure it in the container with a plastic gaud or pot tape, crisscrossing it over the top of the container and down the sides of the container for about 5cm (2").
- When arranging roses in water, if you are using foliage with the roses, strip off the lower pieces of foliage that will come under the water line and give them a long drink in water before using them.
- A tall vase, about(18-22cm)7-10 inches high, is a good choice for a vase arrangement.
Half fill the vase with water and, if possible, add flower preservative to help cut down on bacteria. - Cut the foliage stems to the desired length. They should be at least one and a half times the height of the container and place the stems in the container crisscrossing them on an angle so the foliage tips extend over the edges of the container. Fill in the centre with foliage.
- Add the roses cutting each one to the desired length. For good balance, if the flowers are different sizes, place the smallest ones to the outer edges and graduate, so the largest fullest flowers are placed at the bottom of the arrangement.
- Leave spaces between the flowers, so they are not over crowded.
- Place the arrangement in a cool place away from direct sunlight, heater, draught or air conditioner.
After Care -
Spray the arrangement lightly with water and re - spray with water every 2-3 days.
Some of the roses will last longer than others, as they wither remove them.
When you only have few roses left, you can re-cut the ends of the stems and re-arrange them in a smaller container.
By following these simple care tips, you will have received the maximum amount of pleasure from your roses!
About Our School
Become Involved in the Wonderful World of Floristry.
Motivation Quote
"Learn something new. Try something different. Convince yourself that you have no limits".
Brian Tracy
Floristry Diploma Courses. Learn floristry as a rewarding career or fascinating hobby.
If you have not enrolled in our floristry course, I encourage you to do so.
To have some changes in your life, you need to make some changes. By learning a new skill, you will learn to create all types of wonderful floral designs.
A beautiful flower arrangement is the perfect gift for any occasion.
Many of our students have become involved in the floristry industry or earn extra income from home selling their floral designs. Others enroll to learn how to create artistic flower arrangements for their own enjoyment.
In our Floristry Diploma Course, we teach you how to create many styles of arrangements including traditional and modern, suitable for different occasions.
For full information on our Floristry Diploma Course, please click onto
http://www.floral-art-school.com.au/
That's it for this month
Take care,
Best Regards
Fay
This newsletter is written by Fay Chamoun,
Principal of Floral Art School of Australia and International Floral Design School.
Fay Chamoun © copyright 2006
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