6 Tips To Make Your Flower Arrangements Last Forever
In the last two years, I've preserved roses, jazzed up hydrangeas, and even gone wild with autumn foliage, but I'll be honest… I've run out of flower arrangement ideas. So I decided to take a Flower Arranging Basics workshop at She Loves Me, a woman-owned flower shop in DC, to revive my skills!
Ok! Now, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the class…
xoxo, Imani
A large worktop was set up with flowers, shears, and vases for everyone!
Where Was The Workshop?
She Loves Me at 550 Harry Thomas Way NE Suite 180, Washington, DC 20002.
How Much Was It? And What Do You Get?
The class is $95, and everything you need including flowers, vases, and sheers is provided. For this class, we each got 3-5 spillers like eucalyptus, 6-8 fillers like snapdragons and roses, and 1-2 stars - Dahlias were the star of this class. And, yes! You do get to keep the arrangement + vase!
NOTE: Holley (Owner of She Loves Me) kindly gifted me a spot in this class!
What Do You Do In The Workshop?
Makenzie, the instructor, took us through the various steps of putting together an arrangement. First, we processed our stems, which included removing thorns, leaves, and low-hanging buds. Next, we discussed how to cut the stems for a vase (the branch should be 2x the height of the water), and then we placed the "spillers" - droopy branches that you'd find in the "assorted greens' section at Trader Joe's.
Pink & white snapdragons, reddish mums, and floppy eucalyptus were laid out ready to become beautiful bouquets.
Pink, yellow and orange Dahlia’s were the star of the workshop.
Next, we worked on "fillers"! We received snapdragons, mums, and roses. Makenzie showed us how to "reflex" or turn out a rose to give it a different look and shared the importance of varying the height of your stems to provide the arrangement dimension. She suggested working with odd numbers of each type of flower and never cutting them at the same height - think short, medium, and large!
Throughout the workshop, Makenzie made the rounds and gave individual advice. Then, just when I thought the class was wrapping up, the surprise "STARS" of the workshops appeared… A bucket of Dahlias arrived, and we each got to pick 1-2 stems for the extra pop of color. I went with a pink and orange one because I'm a huge fan of moody Fall flowers!
Once everyone was happy with their creations we took a group picture at the end and got to take our arrangements home.
Was It Worth The Money?
100% yes! The class lasted an hour and a half and provided me with some ideas I wouldn't have thought of... Additionally, it felt good to support a women-owned business and local farmers. Plus, I could have spent WAYYY more than $100 at brunch, so technically, this is a cost-saving activity. 😜
My bouquet midway through the class.
My final bouquet!
6 Tips I Learned In The Workshop
Bacteria Beware
Did you know you should change your flower water DAILY? Frequent water changes have a significant impact on the bloom's longevity - much more than funky additives like vinegar and sugar - because bacteria is the cause of the decline. Change it daily (or at least every other day) to keep your bouquet alive longer!
Trim Your Stems
While changing the water, remember to trim the stems as well. When you cut branches and leave them exposed, they form a “scab”. That scab must be removed so your florals can soak up as much water as possible.
Keep It Cool & Dark
I always thought flowers wanted to live it up in the sun - turns out that is wrong! Cut flowers thrive in cool dark spaces with indirect sunlight, like a chilly basement or a refrigerator. So, if you want your blooms to last a little longer, consider popping them in the fridge at night.
Don't Touch The Water
Bacteria is what kills arrangements, but how does the bacteria get there? Welp! One BIG way is through excess leaves, blooms, and thorns touching the water. Be sure to remove all of that before it goes into the water.
Color Matters
Similar to how it's easier to look dirty when you're wearing an all-white outfit than when you're wearing Black, it's easier for flowers to show their age when they are white. Go for reds, blues, or deep purples to hide the signs of aging.
Stomp On That Stem
Everyone loves hydrangeas, but I'm obsessed with snapdragons after this class. Both have woody stems, which require you to place the shears inside the branches and make an upwards cut. These thick stems need extra snips or a good smashing to open up at the bottom and soak up more water.