We all have heard this sometime, ‘Say it with flowers.’ Indeed, there is no better way to express your feelings or spruce up your home ambiance, than using flowers. Flowers come in all colors, and sizes and the texture and the shape of the petals, stalks, and leaves are different as well. Each one has a charm of its own, and they may be used in a combination as well. The sight of the bright flowers can light up any room and put you in a good mood.
In fact, it has been proved by research as well, that flowers can have a positive impact on a person’s wellbeing. It is said they elicit smiles from people around, and improve the mood in general. Interestingly, one study has found that flowers have a good positive impact, especially on seniors. It is said that flowers inspire seniors to have more social contacts, help ease depression and also score better on memory tests. All the more reason, to get some flowers and do up your home. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you along.
How to get flowers?
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If you have a garden of your own, then you may choose to identify a few flowers, and a few ornamental type leaves if you have, for the flower decoration. Depending on the vase you want to use, cut the flowers with the requisite length of the stalk. Carry the flowers, heads down so as not to break or damage them. Use them fresh from the garden, if possible, or else, you may choose to get some from the florist.
Use vases
The best way to display your flowers is the age-old method of using vases. There are beautiful vases of all sizes and shapes available. Usually, most houses will have one or two lying around. Ensure that the vase is clean and fresh water is filled in it. A pinch of salt or charcoal may be added to the water. This helps keep the bacteria away and helps the flowers to stay fresh without decaying. You can change the water after every two to three days as well to make them last longer. You may also choose to snip off a bit of the stalk daily, for long lasting effect.
Also, the vase should not be crowded with flowers. You can choose to distribute it, into one or two others for different rooms. A crowded vase can result in the flowers withering fast as the stems don’t get to breathe. Remove any leaves from the lower part of the stem, as the submerged leaves aid the bacteria. You can also lightly spray some water on the arrangement, once done to keep it looking fresh.
Be innovative
If you don’t have vases, you can actually choose to use any other container like empty bottles, jugs or jars, water pitchers, etc. The idea is to go innovative with your flower arrangements. You can try different arrangements with a variety of flowers and also throw in a few leaves to add to the charm and bring in the green touch. Place the larger flowers in the center and the smaller ones on the outer circle. You can also use a few leaves strategically placed for visual effect.
When placed right, the vase should hold the flowers like a bunch together. You can also loosely use a rubber band or thread at the bottom of the stalks after arranging to keep it together. A simpler way is to use a wide container filled water and place some flowers without stems, on the water surface for a bright effect. At night, you can even add one or two floating candles in this.
Accessories
The other way to hold your flowers together is to use a flower frog or a piece of floral foam. Flower frogs are usually small metal devices which come with pins or holes, designed to hold the flower stems in a place. These can be used in the vase to hold the flowers in place, by placing the stalks in them. The same applies to floral foams, as they too help to hold the arrangement in place. Foams need to be soaked in water before use. And then you need to replenish the water in the foam, every day. A point to note is that the flower arrangement should be kept away from direct sunlight or the breeze. Both these things can adversely affect the flower arrangement.
