Wiring flowers - Brief Workshop
Floral wire is not required for most of our products. Our flowers are of premium quality with sturdy heads and stems. However, certain flowers have a natural bend or may follow the light. For these flowers you may choose to use floral wire. Please note that when you introduce a foreign object into the stem of a flower, you block the flow of water to the bloom, thus shortening the flower's vase life. How short the vase life becomes will depend on how well the flower responds to this change.
Most flowers do not require wiring. We encourage brides to wire their flowers if (1) the flowers are going to be exposed to rough circumstances or extensive traveling, (2) if flowers have short or no stems, such as orchids and gardenias, or (3) if you are arranging with spray flowers. Please keep in mind that you can damage the flower if the wiring is done incorrectly. We recommend practicing prior to your wedding day.
Most flowers can be wired simply by wrapping the wire around the stem and covering with floral tape. It is not necessary to pierce the flower.
Wiring Orchids:
Orchids are wired for boutonnieres or corsages. To wire an individual orchid, first thread the floral wire through the center of its bulb. Next, bend the wire directly downward until both ends of the wire run parallel to each other, creating a "stem." Finally, rotate floral tape around the "stem."
Wiring Sunflowers:
Sunflowers are one of the few flowers that usually require wiring to stand straight up. Naturally they may want to have their face sideways, meaning that if you are wanting it to stand straight up, you'll need to stick a wire through it. The first step in doing so is to use your dominant hand to support the sunflower head and its upper stem. Next, take the wire and begin sticking it through the upper stem (usually about an inch away from the sunflower head) upward at a 45 degree angle. Continue to gentle push the wire through until you can feel the wire slightly poking through the sunflower head. Finally, with the remainder of the wire sticking out at the end, create a loose spiral as close to the stem as you can.
Wiring Ranunculus:
Ranunculus can be portrayed as either elegantly dainty or free-spirited. Sometimes its stems can bend too much with this being the case, making it look unreasonably droopy. Therefore, wiring is essential to help it stay upright. There are two ways to approach this. One, you can start wiring from the very bottom of the stem. Or two, you can start at the top in the center of the bloom. Before trying out the first option (starting from the bottom), analyze to see if the flowers stem has tough middle parts which may create a blockage for the wire to go through. If you prefer to go with the first option (starting from the bottom), carefully thread the wire through the entire stem. For each push the wire gets inside of the stem, pinch your index and thumb together on the stem close to where the wire is being pushed towards (for stability and support). To do the second option (starting from the top), gently poke through the middle of the bloom with the wire. Then you will pinch your index and thumb together on the stem close to where the wire is being pushed towards (for stability and support).
Wiring a Longer Stem:
Sometimes we may accidentally cut the flower bloom off from almost all of it's stem, making the flower wayyy to short! But don't you worry! When this happens to a flower such as a rose for instance, on its upper stem, poke the wire horizontally through it. With the wires sides both sticking out evenly from the middle of the rose, pinch the upper stem (for support), and completely bend down the wires sides to create a fake stem. Wrap your new stem with floral tape. Bam! Your flower can now stand in your arrangement!
Wiring Lisianthus:
Similar to above, you'll need to poke the wire horizontally through the top of the stem. Having the wire equal on each side of the flower, fold the wire down. Finally, wrap it all up in some floral tape!
Fiftyflowers.com is here to assist you, not only with ordering flowers, but any questions you may have in regards to arranging or designing flowers for your special day.
Read More Like This:
- Types of Flowers: Focals, Fillers, and More!
- Providing the Best Online Wedding Flowers Experience
- How to Keep Flowers Fresh: Care and Transportation Tips!
Photos courtesy of FiftyFlowers
