Ask the Expert: Best way to ensure hydrangeas in a wedding bouquet
I have a bride that wants to use hydrangeas in her bouquet and her bridesmaids.  I am really afraid of using fresh blooms as I know they wilt quickly.  Her wedding is in March. Can you tell me the secret to ensuring that the bouquets will hold up and not wilt.  Thank you so much.

Plant Expert Reply:
The first step to ensuring the hydrangeas don’t wilt is the care you give them when they hit your door. Proper hydration is the key. In Hydrating A Hydrangea Bouquet For A Wedding, the steps for hydrating hydrangeas are outlined.

The steps are as follows
1. Submerge heads for 2 to 4 minutes under tepid water.
2. Gently shake the bloom heads dry.
3. Recut the stems (preferably under water and at an angle).
4. Place in water.

These steps will ensure that the hydrangeas have been hydrated properly. Now you will need to keep them hydrated and how your store them is the key. Keep the hydrangeas in a high humid environment with very little air velocity. In other words, don’t put them near the cooler fan or door and keep the air around them moist (misting if necessary). Temperature is also a factor; 35 to 38 degrees is optimum. Don’t store near fruit, vegetables or other ethylene gas producers. It is best to create the bouquets the morning of the wedding. However, this isn’t always possible. When you create the hydrangea bouquets leave the stems long enough that the bouquets can be placed in water without getting the ribbon wet (if a hand tied bouquet). Leave the bouquets in water until an hour before the wedding. This process should keep the hydrangeas well hydrated for the wedding and alleviate any wilting issues.

Some designers use hydrangeas in floral foam when creating wedding flower arrangements or bouquets. Advanced preparation is still the key in this technique. You will want to cut the stems so that they look like an arrow rather than just a one sided angle cut. Some people recommend using a floral preservative or powdered alum when preparing the hydrangeas, other see no need.  You might want to experiment with a couple of stems before the wedding to see which works best for you.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: CAN I USE BAMBOO PLANTS WITH BETA FISH?
FOR MY DAUGHTER’S WEDDING, WE WANT TO HAVE OUR CENTERPIECES WITH BETA FISH SWIMMING IN THE BOWL.  WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF GREEN PLANT FLOATING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE PLANTER.  I KNOW SOME USE PEACE LILIES, BUT WE LIKE LUCKY BAMBOO AND WONDER IF THAT WOULD WORK.   I DON’T WANT TO HURT THE FISH, JUST HAVE THE CENTERPIECE LOOK NICE AND BE DIFFERENT.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.  THANKS DEBBIE

Plant Expert Reply:

As far as I know lucky bamboo is not harmful to fish.  However, a long-term relationship between the two is probably not a good idea.  Although lucky bamboo will live in water, most fish forums do not recommend it for use in an aquarium.  I’m not sure why. It maybe an oxygen issue or something else.  (This might make a good science experiment for a high school student.) My suspicion is that the roots of the lucky bamboo will rapidly take over the bowl which is something the fish do not like.

As for the wedding, I see nothing wrong with using the lucky bamboo in the centerpieces.  I would use 3 or 6 stalks of lucky bamboo per centerpiece (which represents happiness) .  At the head table, I would create a larger centerpiece with 21 stalks (blessings).

Red or gold ribbon is often tied around lucky bamboo for extra lucky or good fortune. You may want to tie ribbon the same color of the bridesmaids dresses or wedding bouquets around your stalks instead.

Good luck and keep me posted.  When you create the wedding centerpieces, you should submit a photo of them to WeddingandPartyNetwork.com. They have an awesome wedding flower photo gallery.  Just think, you might start a new wedding trend.

Ask the Expert: November/December flowers
I’d really like a bouquet with blue hydrangea and a couple white cabbage roses mixed in, but I think hydrangea will be out of season in late Nov, early Dec. Is there another blue flower I could substitute?

Thank you!

Amy

Plant Expert Reply:

You’ll be glad to know hydrangeas are available to florists year round.  So you won’t need to subsititue another flower for hydrangea blooms in your wedding bouquet.

Although hydrangeas are used mostly in spring (March, April, May) and summer (June, July, August), we are seeing a rise in hydrangeas use in fall weddings (September, October, November).  Winter brides (December, January, February) often use hydrangea blooms when they want a large white bloom.  This beautiful bloom is a wonderful wedding flower choice.

If you still need ideas for blue wedding flowers let me know.

Whether a budget-oriented bride or not, being able to use wedding decorations in many areas is always a big perk. Many florists are starting to use bouquets (bridesmaids or bridal) as centerpieces on the main table at the wedding. This is a way to keep the bridesmaids bouquets and wedding bouquets fresh before and after the ceremony. Plus, the bridesmaids are able to just snatch the bouquets out of the water and take them home as a wedding favor!

Using unique vases and containers takes this technique to the next level. Showcase the floral bouquets just a little better with a beautiful vase. Creative containers simultaneously keep the flowers fresh and bring to life all of the effort put into creating the beautiful bouquets.

This idea also works for parties such as bachelorette parties. These bouquets liven up the party decorations and also make great party favors! It’s a win-win for hostesses and guests.

This design technique has become a very popular trend in wedding flowers and is seeing an increase at parties. Florists are happy to showcase their prized creations for a little longer. Brides and hostesses are glad to save a few bucks but still have an elegant, beautiful wedding or party. If you’re looking for a quick centerpiece idea, try this trendy new design technique!

Bouquet Centerpieces from The Flower Patch in Gypsum, CO

Short Vase Bouquet Centerpieces from The Flower Patch in Gypsum, CO

Ask The Expert: Help! I’m hoping because of your name you’ll know the anwser.  I’m a fairly new florist, and I have a bride that wants a few passionflowers in her bouquet.  But I can’t find them as cut flowers anywhere.  I could try to grow a few vines, but I don’t want to promise her if I can’t find them anywhere already grown.  Any idea how I could get a few for a Sept 5 wedding? Susan

Reply:

The idea of using a passion flower in a wedding bouquet sound simply romantic.  However, in the real world it wouldn’t be as romantic as it sounds.  I can not think of any cut flower grower that carries passion flowers.  In fact, I doubt that the flower would last long once it is cut from the vine.  If the bride wants to incorporate the passion flower in her wedding, you might try using potted passion flower vines.  I would, however, caution her that the plant may not have blooms when she wants them.  You might try Logee’s Greenhouse in Connecticut if you need the plants.

Just a little side note:  Love was not the inspiration behind the Passion Flower name.  This flower actually was inspired by the Passion of Christ on the cross.  Spanish Christian missionaries from the 15th and 16th century felt that the physical structure of the plant symbolized the Crucifixtion and the filaments in the flower represented the crown of thorns.  So, they named the the flowering vine passion flower.

Ask the Expert: What flowers/colors will be in for Jan weddings
What flowers and colors will be “in” for January weddings?

There are many awesome flowers that make great additions to summertime flower arrangements. When it comes to creating an exquisite display for my tables, centerpieces, gardens and other home décor uses, I look to these fabulous blooms for an extra splash of cool during the summer months.

Hydrangeas in full bloom are gorgeous additions to the home or garden. The blossoms of hydrangeas provide a very distinctive and soft scent that no nose can resist. Hydrangea Read the rest of Five Cool Flowers For Summer »

It’s not surprising that the growing popularity of multicultural and ethnic weddings leaves florists with the often daunting challenge of “thinking outside the box” for their nuptial flower arrangements. Cultural heritage affects nearly every facet of the wedding ceremony, stemming into the floral arrangements more often than expected. Brides, couples, and ethnic wedding planners are now enlisting the aid of florists to help give the bridal couple a memorable ceremony with a somewhat different meaning to the word ‘traditional.’

It is important in this ethnic wedding boom for florists to sculpt ceremonial floral arrangements and decorations around a cultural wedding theme. According to an article in the March issue of Floral Management magazine, taking the time to research the heritage and customary wedding traditions of a bride or groom may be the just the unique difference that helps guarantee the job for that couple’s wedding.

Many people wonder how different traditions affect wedding flowers. There are, in fact, many faux pas that can be avoided by researching the bridal couple’s heritage. For instance, it is customary for many Asian brides to change outfits three to five times during the ceremony. Florists may wish to alter the floral arrangements to suit the various colors of the bride’s gowns. A consideration for florists decorating a Jewish wedding ceremony is the Jewish bride’s desire for a beautiful chuppah, the wedding canopy that the couple stands beneath during the ceremony. Florists of Jewish brides will need to provide flowers for the chuppah as well as pew markers.

The first ethnic wedding for florists may seem a bit formidable but a few tips exist to make the project easier. First, be prepared to do a lot of research. Understanding the customs of the couple will help to give them the wedding of their dreams as well as the perfect floral decorations. Secondly, do not be afraid to ask questions. Remember that while some customs remain the same, each wedding ceremony celebrates an individual couple.

There are many places in which you can find information about cultural practices. In fact Wedding and Party Network has developed a Wedding Traditions resource that includes many cultural wedding traditions. They constantly update the information and even allow their readers to give input.

Ask the Expert: September wedding what kind of flowers?

We live in the high desert in CA, the wedding is in September, the colors are baby blue and chocolate brown.  What flowers would you suggest?  We are on a limited budget.  I was even thinking of just going with white roses with a “splash” of blue for the for bride and an assortment for bridesmaids. What is a good flower that is blue? Kim

Ask the Expert: my son is having an outdoor wedding reception

In June it will be very informal type BBQ outside. What suggestions would you have for some sort of floral arrangement that is both economical and able to stand the possibilities of say wind..etc that day? Her colors are black, white and a touch of orange. We thought of tiger lilies will they be in bloom by June 14th? Besides putting something in a vase that could blow over what else can we do? Thank you. Diane