With just a few days left to find that perfect gift for Mom, it might be time for an old fallback – flowers. A beautiful vase filled with bright colors and delicate scents can bring life to her desk at the office or the dining room table at home.

Instead of a dozen roses from the grocery store, though, take these tips from Magic Valley florists to create a truly special bouquet, whether you cut the flowers from your garden or buy them stem by stem.

“Flowers are gorgeous, they bring happiness to the recipient,” said Joyce Canty, designer at Primrose Lane Florist in Buhl. “It brings joy and sometimes comfort to almost everyone at one time or another.”

Choosing blooms

When selecting a flower, it is important to pay attention to the stage of bloom, said Elizabeth Lehmann, designer at Fox Floral in Twin Falls.

“The biggest thing, don’t cut something full blown or in full bloom,” she said. “Make sure it has good color to it, or you’re cutting it prematurely.”

This applies both before and after the blossom is cut from the plant. To get the most from your flowers, choose blooms that aren’t fully unfolded but have reached full color. In the vase, the color of flowers won’t improve, but they will continue to open up.

The health of the plant is important as well, as the hydration of the stems will affect the hydration of the flowers.

“If the foliage is dying, the bloom is going to die soon too,” Lehmann said. “Cut flowers off of a nice, vibrant, healthy plant, and don’t cut them at the heat of the day.”

Cut the flower stem as long as possible, near the base of the plant or where it connects to the stalk. Then, when creating an arrangement, you can leave the stem long or cut it short.

Use a sharp blade so the stem doesn’t get crushed.

“It’s important to do a straight, even cut, at an angle, as opposed to an implement that would mash the stems,” Canty said. “Generally, I use a knife; some people like to use scissors.”

If the cells in the stem are broken or mangled, the bloom won’t be able to pull water from the vase up into the petals, and the flower will die more quickly. If you cut the stem at an angle it won’t get stuck to the bottom of the vase, and the surface area exposed to the water is maximized, lengthening the life of the flower.

Creating an arrangement

The first thing to do when crafting a flower arrangement is to decide on the look you’re going for.

“It depends on the style you like and the kind of container you have,” Canty said. “There’s anything from high style with tropicals to everyday carnations.”

Canty said that Gerbera daisies are very popular this year, in part because they are available year-round, while bouquets featuring roses are a good standby for romantic occasions like anniversaries and weddings.

“I think most people go buy their favorite flower or a particular color,” she said.

A good guideline is to use the same color family ��” red, orange and yellow, for example ��” or the same color values ��” pastel pinks, yellows and purples.

“If you’re buying something really vibrant, if you put something pastel with it, one or the other will disappear,” Lehmann said. Except in especially large arrangements, she also uses a geographical rule of thumb. “If they don’t grow together, don’t put them together. You need to kind of mimic nature.”

For beginning designers, Canty suggests using flowers that are one and a half times the height of the vase you have chosen, because that proportion is pleasing to the eye. At the opposite end of the design spectrum, several magazines have recently featured short, wide vases overflowing with a single kind and color of flower, such as white roses.

“Make sure you always re-cut the stem just as you’re putting it in the container,” Lehmann said, unless you have just cut the flower from your garden. Like cutting at an angle, this will maximize the flower’s hydration.

Dehydration and bacteria are the biggest enemies to a bouquet’s longevity, the florists said. Use a vase or container that holds enough water to keep the flowers hydrated, and add new water every day.

A little bleach in the water will help stave off bacteria, as will replacing the water frequently. Both florists recommend using the powdered solution that comes with store-bought bouquets, which contains sugars that feed the flowers. This floral food is also available at florist shops and garden centers.

Another tip for lengthening the life of a bouquet is to keep cut flowers in a cool, shaded area.

“Don’t ever put them in front of a heater, on top of a refrigerator, in front of a sunny window,” Lehmann said. “Heat just shortens their life span.”

Times-News features writer Ariel Hansen can be reached at 735-3376 or ariel.hansen@lee.net.

source :www.magicvalley.com