designing basic floral work - agricultural...

Designing Basic Floral Work

FLORAL DESIGN is fun and can be a great

way for you to express your creativity.

The designs that can be made with flowers

are endless. Of course, many of the most

creative floral designs are made after years

of practice and education in the floral arts.

Objective:

� Examine basic floral design concepts.

Key Terms:

�

Basic Floral Design

Floral design, like many other forms of art, requires basic tools, supplies, and design con-

cepts and procedures. Once the basics have been mastered, you can pursue more advanced

techniques.

BASIC TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

Many floral design practices today are made possible through the use of design tools and

supplies. The primary tools used are cutting tools.

E-unit: Designing Basic Floral Work

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anchor pin

brick

chicken wire

contour

floral foam

florist shears

greening pin

grouping

hyacinth stakes

needlepoint holder

pan-melt glue

poly foil

pruning shears

rosettes

water tubes

waterproof tape

Cutting Tools

Knives are cutting instruments

used extensively by florists. The

pocket knife is excellent because it

can be folded for protection when

not in use. The advantage of a

knife is that using one is faster

than using shears or scissors. A

disadvantage is that thumbs and

fingers are more easily injured. A

knife should be kept sharp for

best results.

Florist shears are a cutting

tool with short, serrated edges

designed for cutting thick or

woody stems and flowers that

have been wired. An advantage of

this tool is that stems will not

become pinched in the cutting

operation, allowing for better

water uptake after cutting.

Pruning shears are tools

used in the landscaping area to cut

branches from trees or shrubs.

The cutting style of shears is pre-

ferred to the anvil style, which

cuts by pinching the stems. Prun-

ing shears are typically used on

very tough branches and stems.

They are extremely valuable dur-

ing the Christmas holiday season

because of their ability to cut

evergreen stems.

Scissors are valuable for cut-

ting both ribbon and floral stems.

However, there are different kinds of scissors. Fabric scissors are preferred for cutting ribbon,

while utility scissors are preferred for cutting flowers and other materials.

Floral Foam

Floral foam is a porous material that holds a great amount of water and provides stability

for flower stems. Flowers can be placed at an angle in this material, and the foam will hold

them in place. Foam comes in two formulations. One is for fresh materials, and one is for


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FIGURE 1. A knife is an efficient tool for any floral designer.

FIGURE 2. Florist shears (top) and pruning shears (bottom) are indispensable

for cutting thick and woody stems.

dried and artificial materials. The foam comes in the shape of a rectangle and is referred to as a

brick. Florist foam can be cut to the desired size and shape with a knife or heavy-gauge wire.

The foam should be allowed to soak in a solution of floral preservative for a minimum of

one-half hour before using it to assure maximum water absorption. Foam should not be

re-soaked. Neither should a brick be forced into the solution, because this will create air bub-

bles in the foam.

When foam is being put into a container, an inch or more of the foam should appear above

the edge of the container. This practice allows for the placement of flowers at angles that might

not be permitted otherwise.

Foam placed in a clear glass

container will appear green from

the outside. This appearance can

be changed by wrapping the foam

in silver foil. Also, using a con-

tainer made of colored plastic

material can mask the green color.

Leave a small area in which the

recipient of the arrangement can

add water later. This is very

important for a design in which

the foam would cover the entire

area of the container.

Anchoring Materials

Foam must be secured to the container to prevent an arrangement from falling over. Floral

foam can be secured with waterproof tape, anchor pins, or hot glue.

Waterproof tape is the most common method used to secure foam. It can be used with

wet foam, but the container must be dry. Waterproof tape is available in 1/4- and 1/2-inch widths

and in green, white, and clear. Lengths of tape are usually affixed from a 12 to 6 o’clock posi-

tion and from a 3 to 9 o’clock position.


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FIGURE 3. Floral foam is porous and easy to cut with a knife.

FIGURE 4. Foam can be secured to a container with tape (left) or an anchor pin (right).

An anchor pin is a plastic four-pronged device secured to the bottom of a container with

glue or floral clay. Floral foam is placed on the anchor pin. An anchor pin permits a small piece

of foam to be used in a container. If a larger piece of foam is used, multiple pins might be nec-

essary.

The pan-melt glue method uses dry foam and a dry disposable container. The floral foam

is dipped into a pan of hot glue and then secured to the container. When the glue is dry, both

the container and the foam are placed in a preservative solution.

Other Foundations

Other foundations are used by a designer for different purposes.

A needlepoint holder, also referred to as a frog or pin holder, is a device that has a heavy

metal base with upright metal pins attached and evenly spaced. This device is secured to a con-

tainer using floral clay. Except in exhibition work, florists seldom use needlepoint holders

because of their high cost.

Chicken wire is inexpensive and creates great support for heavy and thick-stemmed flow-

ers. It can be secured into place with plastic “S” clips.

A greening pin is a metal

“hairpin” with an “S” or flat top.

It is used to keep moss or foliage

in place. Wire bent in a “U” shape

can achieve the same effect.

Water tubes are plastic tubes

with rubber tops that have holes

in them for the fresh flower

stems. They are often used to add

fresh flower accents to potted

plants.

Hyacinth stakes are green

wooden stakes that offer needed

support for heavier flowers in an

arrangement.

GEOMETRIC DESIGNS

Three basic types of geometric floral designs are vertical, triangular, and circular. Each geo-

metric design offers a different visual experience. Designers need to visualize the shapes they

plan to use in their designs. Basic techniques involve setting the height of an arrangement first,

adding width, and then adding the contour.

Contour is the three-dimensional radiation in an arrangement from the vertical height

placement to the horizontal placements when viewed from the side. Proper contour should

have a gentle roundness to it.


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FIGURE 5. Water tubes, hyacinth stakes, and greening pins are common

supplies that a floral designer may use.

Floral foam is an important component in achieving geometric designs. Flowers that appear

on the left should be placed in the left side of the foam, and flowers that appear on the right

should be placed in the right side of the foam. A symmetrical design should be centered in the

foam, while an asymmetrical design should be placed to the right or left of the center. The

designer should place tall flowers near the back and then work forward.

Types of Geometric Designs

Vertical designs are very eye catching and bold. The flowers are placed in a linear fashion,

forming a strong vertical statement. The width of these designs is secondary to the height. Bud

vases are typically vertical designs. One of these arrangements can be placed on a desk, table, or

counter with a small amount of space.

Triangular designs are popular for all types of occasions. They are often seen in church altar

arrangements for weddings and in funeral pieces. They can be asymmetrical or symmetrical in

design. Symmetrical triangular designs are equilateral or isosceles. Asymmetrical triangular

designs are right or scalene.

Circular designs offer diverse styles, including oval, crescent, and Hogarth, or “S”-curve

designs. The oval design is often used commercially in get-well or Administrative Profession-

als’ Day (or Week) bouquets. The crescent is common in holiday design pieces, and the

Hogarth curve is seen in formal and exhibition design work.

NATURALISTIC DESIGNS

Naturalistic designs draw on nature and gardening for inspiration. A common technique

used in this design concept is grouping. Grouping is placing flowers and foliage in units as if


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UNDER INVESTIGATION…

LAB CONNECTION: Steps in Wrapping Potted Plants with Poly Foil

Sales of potted plants make up a good segment of all florist shop sales. Decorating the pots

is relatively easy and inexpensive for the florist, and it produces much customer satisfaction.

Potted plants can be placed in baskets and other containers. Adding accessories such as bows,

birds, and seasonal items also adds value. Decorating pots with foil is one of the most common

methods used.

Wrapping a potted plant with foil begins with the selection of foil. Both lightweight and poly

foil are used, although poly foil is more resistant to tears. Cut a square of poly foil to fit the size

of the pot. Fold the cut edges over for a more attractive look. Place the plant in the center. Bring

the foil up to the pot rim on one side and tuck a small portion into the rim. Bring the other sides

up and tuck them into the rim. Smooth the foil gently around the potted plant. Add a bow to

complete the decoration.

they were naturally growing there. Designers who understand nature and how things grow

will be able to create these designs easily.

Naturalistic designers often use baskets, trays, and bowls that are very low in height. Often

the containers are not visible. Designers will also typically use containers that are made of nat-

ural fibers. Sheet moss and Spanish moss are common materials used in naturalistic designs.

Florists sometimes design rosettes, in which foliage stems radiate from a central point as if

growing in the wild.

Accessories such as realistic birds, butterflies, nests, and even insects can offer something

special to naturalistic designs.

DECORATING

POTTED PLANTS

The ability to decorate potted plants is a

very important skill for a person working

in a floral shop. A florist sells many potted

plants for various occasions. Few plants

leave the shop in just the clay or plastic

pots in which they were grown. A plant

may be placed in a basket or in a pre-

formed pot cover. Once the cover is in

place, bows, birds, seasonal items, or live

flowers may be added. The most com-

monly used decorating material is foil.

Foil comes in two types, lightweight

foil and poly foil. Lightweight foil is not as

resistant to tearing and water damage. It is

colored on one side and silver on the

other. Poly foil is thicker because a polyethylene material is applied to the silver side of the

foil. The thicker material lessens the chance of the foil tearing and water escaping.

Summary:

� The primary tools are cutting tools, such as knives, florist shears, pruning shears,and scissors.

Floral foam is a material that provides stability for flower stems. Foam that holds agreat amount of water is used for fresh materials. Another is used for dried and arti-ficial materials.

Foam is secured to the container with waterproof tape, an anchor pin, or hot-meltglue.


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FIGURE 6. Wrapping a potted plant adds to its appeal.

Three basic types of geometric floral designs are vertical, triangular, and circular.Vertical designs are very eye catching and bold. Triangular designs are popular forall types of occasions. Circular designs offer diverse styles, including oval, crescent,and Hogarth, or “S”-curve designs.

Naturalistic designs draw on nature and gardening for inspiration. A common tech-nique used in this design concept is grouping.

The ability to decorate potted plants is a very important skill for a person working ina floral shop. The most commonly used decorating material is foil.

Checking Your Knowledge:

� 1. What are the primary tools used in floral design?

2. What are the characteristics of floral foam?

3. What are the basic types of geometric design?

4. What defines naturalistic designs?

5. How are potted plants decorated?

Expanding Your Knowledge:

� Apply the skills learned in class to make different geometric and naturalistic floraldesigns. Practice foiling potted plants.

Web Links:

� Flower Arranging 101

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/hisofartoffl.html

Meanings of Flowers

http://www.aboutflowers.com/floral_b5.html

Flower and Plant Varieties

http://www.aboutflowers.com/fpvar/fresh.html

Green and Blooming House Plants

http://www.aboutflowers.com/gandb/green.html


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http://www.save-on-crafts.com/hisofartoffl.html

http://www.aboutflowers.com/floral_b5.html

http://www.aboutflowers.com/fpvar/fresh.html

http://www.aboutflowers.com/gandb/green.html

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