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What Supplies do I Need for Flower Arranging?

Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders

If you love to decorate your home with floral bouquets, learning the basics of flower arranging is a smart move. You’ll be able to create your own centerpieces and arrangements with a minimal amount of time and effort. One of the greatest benefits is that you’ll also save a bundle by avoiding the services of a florist!

Supplies for flower arranging can be purchased at any craft store. Most craft stores also have books with floral arrangement ideas, tips, and techniques. If you’re looking for personal instruction in the art of flower arranging, you can ask the salesclerk if classes are available in your area.

Corsages are another form of flower arrangements.
Corsages are another form of flower arrangements.

Floral foam is one of the most important supplies for flower arranging, since it helps to keep the arrangement in place. Floral foam is cut with a serrated knife to fit the size of your container. There are many different types of floral foam, however, so it’s important to know what type is right for your project. Water-holding floral foam, sometimes called oasis foam, is ideal for working with fresh flowers because it holds moisture very well. Desert foam or plastic foam is a better choice for silk flower arranging.

Artificial flowers are often used for flower arrangements.
Artificial flowers are often used for flower arrangements.

Waterproof tape is a general purpose adhesive used in floral arranging to hold the floral foam in place. This tape, generally available in white, green, and clear varieties, is pressure sensitive. If adhered to a dry surface, waterproof tape will stick to glass, wood, plastic, ceramic, and metal vases or containers.

Pan melt glue pots let you melt small glue pellets to use as a strong adhesive for flower arranging. This is particularly useful if you are making a large silk arrangement and need to firmly secure the ends of the flowers into the floral foam. However, if you can’t find pan melt glue or you’re simply trying to save money, a high-quality low temperature glue gun will be an acceptable substitute.

Flower arrangements can vary widely depending on the theme of a gathering.
Flower arrangements can vary widely depending on the theme of a gathering.

If you’re planning to make corsages, boutonnières, or floral headpieces, floral stem tape is a useful supply for flower arranging. This tape is strong, yet highly flexible. The adhesive is activated when the tape is stretched. In addition, floral stem tape is also a great way to lengthen and strengthen stems.

Floral arrangements used for weddings, baby showers, and other special occasions often include candles as part of the design. To make this type of arrangement, you’ll need waterproof clay to use as an adhesive for the candle holders and other dimensional accents in your arrangement. However, it’s important to remember that the clay won’t stick correctly if the base of your arrangement isn’t completely dry and free of dust.

Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders

Dana holds a B.A. in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa. She has loved being part of the WiseGEEK team ever since discovering the joys of freelance writing after her son was born. Dana also hones her writing skills by contributing articles to various blogs, as well as creating sales copy and content for e-courses.

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Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders

Dana holds a B.A. in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa. She has loved being part of the WiseGEEK team ever since discovering the joys of freelance writing after her son was born. Dana also hones her writing skills by contributing articles to various blogs, as well as creating sales copy and content for e-courses.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

bythewell

@clintflint - It's not really the same thing, but you could always try silk flower arranging. There are all kinds of silk flowers in a lot of different price ranges and they can look very realistic and quite lovely.

The learning curve is probably not as steep, because you don't have to worry about them dying if you arrange them the wrong way and you don't really have to worry about the quality of individual blooms either.

But I know a lot of people don't like the perceived sterility compared with using fresh flowers. So it's not for everyone, but in the long run it's certainly going to be cheaper.

clintflint

@Iluviaporos - I've never considered being a flower arranging course, but it would be a lot of fun. I imagine it would be fairly expensive though, since cut flowers seem to be very expensive these days in general.

Although I guess the alternative is to just go out and get some books on the subject or something like that.

lluviaporos

I love flowering arranging. I remember learning it in a class when I was a kid and I was mostly fascinated by the floral foam, which was a lot of fun to play with. But now I just love being able to bundle a bunch of beautiful things in a way that really brings out the beauty and then display them in my home.

It never quite feels right unless I've got some flowers somewhere, even if it's just a small sprig of wildflowers in a tumbler.

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    • Corsages are another form of flower arrangements.
      By: BVDC
      Corsages are another form of flower arrangements.
    • Artificial flowers are often used for flower arrangements.
      By: nonillion
      Artificial flowers are often used for flower arrangements.
    • Flower arrangements can vary widely depending on the theme of a gathering.
      By: photografer1980
      Flower arrangements can vary widely depending on the theme of a gathering.
    • Vases are needed for floral centerpieces.
      By: jillchen
      Vases are needed for floral centerpieces.