Beginner techniques every florist should learn
Do you want to get into floristry but unsure where to begin? This blog post will help break down the key techniques to master as a beginner.
The world of floristry is so alluring. There’s so much colour, fragrance and creativity. There’s endless flower names and varieties to learn. There’s also a multitude of techniques and tools to familiarise yourself with. I recommend focusing on the following beginner floristry techniques.
Why does learning the basics in floristry matter?
Before you can develop your own style you need to learn floristry basics. This will create a strong foundation. These techniques will also prevent wasted flowers. You will quickly find that buying in flowers is expensive! They will also help reduce frustration as you begin your floristry career.
1. Proper conditioning techniques
Learning how to condition flowers was the very first skill I mastered. Conditioning refers to process of preparing and hydrating cut flowers and foliages when they have arrived from the wholesalers.
Fresh materials will arrive often wrapped in cellophane or paper and tied with elastic bands. All wrapping and bindings need to be removed. Each steam needs to have excess leaves removed. Any leaves that will sit below the waterline will go mouldy and shorten the vase life of your flowers.
Once all the stems have been prepared they need to be rehydrated. Fill clean bucket with fresh water. Cut the stems at a 90 degree angle and put them in the bucket. Don’t overfill buckets as this will encourage flowers to go mouldy.
I’d recommend giving your flowers at least 12 hours to hydrate before using them in flower arranging. Learning basic flower care will ensure you get the most from your flowers.
2. The spiral technique
Spiralled stems is a floristry technique where flower stems are arranged at an angle in a rotating pattern rather than vertically. This creates a hand-tied bouquet with a single, secure binding point.
What’s the benefit of spiralling stems?
Creates a wider and airy bouquet shape
Allows the bouquet to stand on it’s own
Prevents stem damage
Looks neat and professional
I believe the best way to learn how to learn the spiral bouquet technique is to learn in person. Alternatively you find watch videos online and purchased a bunch of flowers from the wholesaler and just practice again and again. It can take a while to master this skill, so don’t lose heart if you struggle with it!
3. Ordering flowers
There’s a whole art to ordering flowers. It sounds simple but you need to consider the following:
What is your budget? Don’t forget that you need to pay VAT on flowers.
When should you order flowers in? If you’re getting flowers for a wedding or funeral you’ll need to buy them in early enough so they can bloom fully before the event. If they’re for a gift bouquet you want to deliver them as fresh as possible.
What quantity do you need of each flower? Doing a stem count for the designs you want to make can be helpful. This will become easier the more you work with flowers and learn their shape and size.
What’s your colour palette? Flowers are natural products so the picture shown on the wholesaler website may not be accurate. The more you work with flowers the more you will become familiar with varieties of flowers.
4. Creating a colour palette
Becoming confident with colour will help you become a competent florist and help you choose flowers for your arrangements. I’d recommend putting a colour wheel near where you work and creating a floral colour palette before every design you create.
You may wish to use a colour theory, which is a framework that helps you understand how colours interact and contrast with each other, and how they make us feel. For example, warm tones (reds, oranges) evoke energy and passion, while cool tones (blues, greens) convey calm and tranquillity.
Tips for becoming confident with colour:
Visiting an art gallery and getting familar with how artists use colour in their work.
Purchase a copy of Flower Colour Guide by Darroch and Michael Putnam (affiliate link).
Create colour palettes with paint or websites like Coolors.co.
5. Understanding shape and structure
Once you have chosen the colours and the flowers you want to use for your bouquet composition or your floral arrangement you need to think of the shape you’re creating.
My top tip is from Constance Spry, a florist from the mid-20th century. She said: ‘leave room for the butterflies!’ and I think it’s such good advice. Each flower should have enough room to shine on its own. This is also known as creating negative space.
Focal and filler flowers:
Thinking of flowers as either focal and filler will help you create balanced shapes. Show stopper flowers like roses and dahlias are focal flowers. They act as the central feature of your arrangement or design. Whereas flowers like limonium and waxflower are filler flowers. They add texture, volume and depth.
Considering the height of your flowers and overall design is really important when creating the shape. Varying heights and sizes, with plenty of negative space creates movement within your design or bouquet.
Learn floristry at The Rookery
My studio is a welcoming space for anyone with a interest in floristry. I offer one to one and two to one sessions at The Rookery, which is the nickname for my studio, based in Glasgow Southside.
I can help you master all the basic beginner techniques to get you started in floristry career.
