Gerbera Boutonnieres???

[SiberiaAIFD]

I have a bride who is insisting on gerberas for boutonnieres. I've never sold this idea because frankly, gerberas hold up horribly out of water....so why is she getting the "OK" from other florists on this? did I miss something? anyone have suggestions/help, please chime in and correct me- (if i'm wrong)

thanks!

 

[ctherose]

Hmmm....I've done a ton of weddings/prom flowers with gerbs/germini. I have not had any problems with them (to my knowledge!). I find that I can make them on a Friday for a Saturday event and they look great Saturday at delivery time. You've got me thinking that I should do more experimenting as to how long they will actually last.

 

[Carol Bice]

I spray them with Hawaiian Mist or something equal and have had them hold for a couple of days. Be sure they are well hydrated before designing them. I also soak the heads in water for a few minutes before making.

Carol Bice

 

[SiberiaAIFD]

i'm just going by gerberas out of water in the shop, laying on a counter, etc end up wilting...so that's where i'm coming from....

 

[Luc]

Have done them inthe past also and have gotten no problem.

Do them late friday and i use a stephanotis them up the stem wet as a whistle.
Tape it and spray your favourite finishing spray like crown and glory and they should hold up.
Try it. experience it.

Luc

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

We have done them for bouts as well, no problem. BUT I still wire & tape (sealing the open cut stem), so I don't know about them holding up as a glued item .... I would think as long as you can seal that cut stem somewhat, they would be fine.

You could also offer two bouts, one for the church, and a replacement for the reception, just in case.

 

[TGDragonfly]

Hi
If you submerge a Gerbera flower in Crowning Glory for a few seconds and place them on a towel to dry they will hold up for days. I think the heavier Dutch Gerberas work best, you know the ones with the thicker petals? We typically leave about 3 inches of stem on the flower. If you bend a piece of wire and insert through the middle and pull until the bend disappears into the center, and wrap around the stem a few times, the bout becomes very secure. Wrap and give it a funky twist of ribbon.

If you want the Gerbera to lay flat against the lapel, cut of the stem entirely and add an extra wire.

Question: I have about 3 gallons of Crowning Glory left. I thought I read somewhere on a earlier post that Crowning Glory is no longer being made. Is this true? Is there a similar product? I swear Crowning Glory is probably nothing more than a mixture of water and Elmer's wood glue.

 

[hollyflr]

I have had good luck with /gerb's as corsages and bout's. One wedding was outside in August, 98 degrees n the shade and the both held up really well. The gerbs were well hydrated, sprayed, and kept in the cooler until the ceremony.

 

[Mocha Rose]

Hi
If you submerge a Gerbera flower in Crowning Glory for a few seconds and place them on a towel to dry they will hold up for days. I think the heavier Dutch Gerberas work best, you know the ones with the thicker petals? We typically leave about 3 inches of stem on the flower. If you bend a piece of wire and insert through the middle and pull until the bend disappears into the center, and wrap around the stem a few times, the bout becomes very secure. Wrap and give it a funky twist of ribbon.

If you want the Gerbera to lay flat against the lapel, cut of the stem entirely and add an extra wire.

Question: I have about 3 gallons of Crowning Glory left. I thought I read somewhere on a earlier post that Crowning Glory is no longer being made. Is this true? Is there a similar product? I swear Crowning Glory is probably nothing more than a mixture of water and Elmer's wood glue.

As far as I know, the new Crowning Glory has been around for about a year. I had problems with the new formula when it was first re-released and called the company. I think I somehow got a bad batch and have purchased another bottle since and had no issues. It does seem to be a lot stronger than the original formula so I've been diluting it 50/50.

There is a long thread on it somewhere.

 

[Tuberose]

We had a wedding on a hot day and so we made one bout for the pics and another bout for the pics. We also sprayed and hydrated good first.

Trish

 

[TGDragonfly]

As far as I know, the new Crowning Glory has been around for about a year. I had problems with the new formula when it was first re-released and called the company. I think I somehow got a bad batch and have purchased another bottle since and had no issues. It does seem to be a lot stronger than the original formula so I've been diluting it 50/50.

There is a long thread on it somewhere.

April, did that batch of CG kind of smell like spoiled milk? kind of yellowish? I think my stuff might be bad to.

 

[Flowerchatter03]

I use gerberas for bouts and corsages all the time but, as Tracy said, I wire and tape them. Also, I purchase my gerberas (through my local wholesaler) from Canada. Those are most awesome! They are probably one of the fastest bouts to make.

As for the Crowning Glory...it was on the market, then off, then a formula change, then a problem with contamination and now back on. If your Crowning Glory is NOT clear, there is something wrong with it.

 

[HeatherTuckey]

I also recommend the canadian gerbs, mini and regular for event work of any kind. They hold up better than CA or dutch gerbs... at least from my own experience. I love Rosa Floras.

 

[rsef]

I have had good luck with /gerb's as corsages and bout's. One wedding was outside in August, 98 degrees n the shade and the both held up really well. The gerbs were well hydrated, sprayed, and kept in the cooler until the ceremony.

Thanks! I've got a July bride that wants the same. Glad to know this will work for hot weather!

 

[lori042499]

I also recommend the canadian gerbs, mini and regular for event work of any kind. They hold up better than CA or dutch gerbs... at least from my own experience. I love Rosa Floras.

I'l second this....i was a huge fan of dutch gerbs until I started buying the rosa floras...Boy are they great....

 

[ctherose]

April, did that batch of CG kind of smell like spoiled milk? kind of yellowish? I think my stuff might be bad to.

Not sure about the smell, but I do know that the bad batch was yellowish in color. The new stuff is just fine!

 

[hangglidegirl]

In addition to spraying the flower with Crowning Glory, be sure to saturate the open cut. The dried CG forms a seal - no need to wire and tape. We use them for weddings all the time.

 

[Connie]

We glue gerberas, using Oasis Floral Adhesive (tube). At a design show, I learned to put some of the glue on the cut end to create a seal.

If we were making gerb bouts and corsages which would be worn outside on a hot day, I'd use Luc's idea.

 

[ctherose]

In addition to spraying the flower with Crowning Glory, be sure to saturate the open cut. The dried CG forms a seal - no need to wire and tape. We use them for weddings all the time.

I'm always looking for ways to save labor, but if you do not wire & tape, how do you ensure the stem won't get broken/squished when pinning it on? I hate pinning flowers on and I'd hate to be responsible for all the daisies I'd go through to get it pinned just right. Do you do some other sort of stem treatment like wrap in deco wire?

 

[TGDragonfly]

There is nothing worse than 5 minutes before a ceremony a groomsman breaks a bout stem. It happens.