| So what exactly does a florist use to prepare | | | | single vase use, keeping a tub or pail of it on hand is |
| flowers for wedding arrangements and party | | | | more Economical. If you want your cut flowers to |
| flowers? Not the typical items you might find in the | | | | last as long as possible, use a water treatment |
| garage or kitchen, but easy to obtain once you know | | | | product. |
| what you are after. Here are the basic tools and | | | | Another favorite solution for florists is leaf shine. Like |
| supplies you need to make it easy to work with | | | | waxing the car after a car wash, leaf shine adds the |
| wholesale flowers. | | | | finishing professional touch on all the greens and |
| The first and most important tool you need in your | | | | leaves in the arrangement. Wholesale greens and |
| DIY kit is a good pair of Floral Scissors. They might | | | | flower leaves often arrive dirty, dull, or with water |
| look like ordinary scissors, but they are not. They are | | | | stains. Using a spray leaf shine after the center piece |
| specifically designed to cut stems without mashing | | | | or bouquet is made only takes a few seconds and |
| the ends which would prohibit proper water take up. | | | | restores the greens to a bright shiny luster. |
| For proper re-hydration of all dry-shipped wholesale | | | | Green floral wire and green floral tape are basic |
| flowers you really need these! | | | | staples for all professional designers. The floral wire |
| The only sure thing you will find in every person's | | | | can be used to support weak stem flowers like |
| pocket working in the wholesale flower market is a | | | | gerbera daises or to add support to corsages and |
| sharp floral knife. Used for opening boxes, cutting | | | | boutonnieres. Green floral tape is used to wrap hand |
| woody stems, or removing thorns, this tool is always | | | | tied bouquets and as a final stem wrap on wedding |
| on hand. They come in fixed blade and folding | | | | boutonnieres. Both are essential for the DIY flower |
| varieties. The maker's of those famous Swiss Army | | | | tool kit! |
| Knifes also offer a single blade folding floral knife | | | | Last but not least is floral foam and floral adhesive. |
| specifically designed for floral work. | | | | Most people have seen the green foam in |
| Preparing wholesale roses can be a little intimidating at | | | | arrangements but have never worked with it. It |
| first because of the thorns. They are the only flower | | | | comes in brick size blocks and can be cut and shaped |
| in the cooler ready to draw blood from a novice and | | | | to fit the vase or container being used and works to |
| expert alike. While the experts probably use a sharp | | | | hold the flowers and other arrangement components |
| floral knife, the thorn stripper is the DIY flower | | | | in place. As light as a feather when dry, cut flower |
| preper's solution. Its a simple inexpensive device that | | | | foam absorbs a large volume of water when soaked |
| removes all the thorns with one pass down the stem. | | | | which then is available to keep the stems hydrated. |
| The excess leaves come off as well, making it very | | | | Note there is also a dry foam that does not absorb |
| fast to prep a 25 pack of roses. | | | | water and is only or silk or dried flower |
| Next in the bag of tricks are the floral solutions. Most | | | | arrangements. Floral adhesive can be used anywhere |
| people think you need to add flower food to the | | | | where components need to be be glued in place. Also |
| water of fresh cut flowers, but flowers don't really | | | | a must for foam bouquet holders to keep the stems |
| need food. What they need is fresh clean water that | | | | in place. |
| stays fresh and clean. Products like Aquaplus power | | | | So if you are starting from scratch on a DIY flower |
| keep the water clean and bacteria free longer than | | | | project, or just want to use the right tools for the |
| untreated water and that keeps the stems from | | | | job, starting with these basic floral design supplies will |
| becoming clogged. While it comes in packets for | | | | make all your flower creations turn out right! |