BY, PILLAI ASWATHY VISWANATH

1. MODULE 8
Flower arrangement
BY
PILLAI ASWATHY VISWANATH

2.  Flower arrangement may be defined as the
art of organizing and grouping together plant
materials (flowers, foliage, twigs, etc.) to
achieve harmony of form, colour, and texture,
thereby adding cheer, life, and beauty to the
surroundings.
 Flower arrangement is a very old art.
 Making up of a good flower arrangement
requires a lot of creativity and one can
develop this art through study and
experimentation with different plant
materials.

3.  It's not necessary that only exotic flowers
are used to make beautiful flower
arrangements.
 Magical creations are possible even with
simple flowers and even wild flowers.
 There are several types of flower
arrangement.
Western
Eastern
Modern

4. Western types Of Flower Arrangement.
 Western style flower arrangements are associated
with ‘mass’ or a number of flowers and foliage
arranged together in a graceful manner.
 A mass arrangement, as its name implies, requires a
lot of plant material.
 It's also sometimes called a Western , mass or
traditional arrangement.
 A mass arrangement is based on symmetry and can
be elaborate.
 The container for the flowers is also usually attractive,
as it is a visual element of the arrangement.

5.  Color is important in this style, and several
colors at a time are common.
 Typical arrangements feature groupings of
flowers standing tall in the center, and
hanging slightly to the right and left, leaving
a little space rather than overstuffing the
container.
 Open spaces give the arrangement a sense of
airiness.
 Place flowers one color at a time at various
heights to create visual depth.

6.  This style was first used to decorate
palaces,mansions and churches
 Traingular, round or oval shaped were
created

8. Eastern Types Of Flower Arrangement
 In this style, flowers and foliage are
arranged in some definite lines
 the foliage occupies the lower line and the
flowers occupy the upper line·
 This was first practised in Japan by Zen
Buddhists.
 Hence, it is also known as Japanese style or
Ikebana or Oriental style.
 Ikebana styles, which are based on specific
rules and angles, using less material.

9.  It's designed to be viewed from the front
only, for instance, against a wall or in an
alcove.
 Few stems, twigs or leaves are present in
this style
 The space in the arrangement is as
important as the plants chosen.
 Color is not a key factor.
 The style is about linear, natural beauty and
creative expression, highlighting the chosen
plant or plants in relation to the container
housing them.

10.  For eastern style, the flowers and foliage
should be arranged in definite lines.
 The lines may be oppostte or parallel or
straight.
 In these lines three flowers should be
placed at different heights.

12. Modern Types Of Flower Arrangement
 This style combines elements of Japanese and
European arrangements, and is sometimes called
Contemporary or modern types of flower
arrangement .
 Modern or free-style arrangement these have no
fixed rules for correct proportions.
 These arrangements do not have a definite
geometric outline; instead the emphasis is on line
and space.
 The individual beauty of each piece of plant
material is emphasized instead of the beauty of an
outline shape or a mass.

13.  Modern/European Style designs often
incorporate unique, exotic or tropical
flowers such as
Bird of Paradise,
Orchids,
Anthurium,
Protea
 but may also employ more common blossoms,
such as Roses, Gerberas and lilies.

16. Containers:
 These are receptacles that hold the flower
arrangement. They may or may not be hidden
by the plant material
 The container must be waterproof and
neutral colours such as soft grey, dull brown,
off-white, or earth colours are most suitable
because they are inconspicuous and do not
detract attention from flowers displayed.
 Theme and simplicity should be kept in mind
while choosing the design of the container.

17.  Example :
vases and jugs,
basket,
bowls and trays
flower holders
floral foam etc.

18. VASES
 A decorative container without handles,
typically made of glass or china and used as
an ornament or for displaying cut flowers.

19. Flower Holders

20. Floral Foam
 This water absorbent foam soaks up water
like a sponge and acts both as a
preservative to prolong the life of the
flowers and a support to hold them in
place.

22. Care And maintenance of flower Of
Flowers and foliage
 A flower or leaf cut from a plant has a short,
though beautiful, life.
 It is possible to prolong this for a little while by a
few methods. Flower arrangers use the term
‘conditioning’ to refer to the preparation of cut
plant materials for a long life, the filling of stems
with water, and prevention of wilting.
 1) A bucket of water at room temperature should
be carried into the garden and the cut flowers
should be immediately plunged into it.
 This helps retain their moisture for a longer
period of time.

23.  2) Plant material should be cut at a slant,
using sharp scissors or knife, either early
in the morning or after sunset. At this
time, they are crisp and filled with
moisture
 3) As a general rule, it is best to cut
flowers before they reach maturity
 4)Carry cut flowers in a heads-down
position so that heavy-headed flowers will
not snap off.

24.  5)Wrap the flowers in newspaper till the
neck of the flowers. Plunge this bunch into
a bucket of water for 3-4 hours or
overnight to condition.
 This is called ‘hardening’.
 In case of foliage, submerge them in
water for about 2 hours

25.  6) Use a good pruning knife or scissors to
make clean, slanting cuts, causing minimal
damage or bruising to the little ducts in
the stem which carry water.
 7) Make slanting cuts in stems rather
than straight ones – preferably
underwater, as this helps expose a larger
surface area for water suction by the
stems.

26.  8) When stems are woody, they may be
cut crushed or split at the end
 9) Dead flowers should be cut off.
 10) Re-cut the stem that has been left
out of water, doing this underwater if
possible and removing about 2 inches of
the stem.
 11) To reduce underwater decay, strip
the stems of all foliage and thorns that
fall below the waterline.

27.  12) To prevent dehydration, keep cut flowers
away from direct sunlight.
 13) Do not put flowers near a bowl of citrus
fruits as they emit ethylene gas when
ripening, which causes wilting of flowers.
 14) Prolong the freshness of the
arrangement by spraying with lukewarm water
from a morning and night.
 15) Change the water everyday if the
arrangement is meant to last a while.
 Never use chilled water, as cut stems fare
best in warm water of about 45 degree
Celsius

28.  16) Listerine, ammonia, charcoal, salt, lemonade,
sugar, camphor, aspirin added in small amounts to
the water, or commercial cut-flower preservatives
slows down bacterial growth, thus prolonging the
life of flowers.
 17) Use clean containers to prevent premature
fouling and bacterial growth. Do not use aluminium
containers for flowers.
 18) Every 3 days, re-cut the stems, clean the vase,
completely replace the water, and add more
preservative