Handtied gerb boq's - do you wire?
- Thread starter IggyFlowers
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I do not wire my Gerbs, nor will I allow any designer to wire Gerbs. A properly grown, shipped, conditioned and hydrated Gerb will be crisp on its own. If I found myself with Gerbs that were otherwise, I would first change suppliers. If that didn't take care of the problem, I would check with Karen Handlin, who is in charge of my processing, to change my routine.
(Karen Handlin. Care and Handling. Get it? :tongue: Never mind.)
Anyway, I'd presume that there was something wrong with my processing steps for Gerbs. It is different from other flowers.
I hate the look of wires on an otherwise elegant crisp fuzzy stem. When I see wires in an arrangement by another florist, I think less of them for sending out a product that they aren't confident in. If a Gerb needs wiring, it's an inferior product.
It reminds me of the movie "Weekend at Bernie's" propping up a dead thing and pretending it's alive.
I've been told by Gerb experts that poking a Gerb head with a wire will actually cause the head to go soft. It's like poking a pinhole in a straw. You must suck harder to get the beverage, because you're sucking air up with the fluid. Same for the Gerbs.
It's self-perpetuating. Those who poke with the wires for support, then see the Gerb soft later and think "I'm glad I supported that Gerb with wire" and they poke the next Gerb, causing it to go soft.
OK. I'm ready for flames, because I see that many of you proudly wire your Gerbs. But I'm just sharing my honest thoughts about the practice. Keep doing what you're doing.... but you must wonder WHY you need to wire your Gerbs and many of us don't?!!!! My Gerbs last 7-10 days with no straw or wire. WHY do you all need wires?? Something is different (and inferior) about your Gerbs.
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I wire if the product is less than great. Do you guys ever wire down the center of the stem? Find the "vein" and the wire goes right down the middle without being seen. I wonder if this is bad for the flower? I don't use gerbs much.
I think B. J. is right on with his thinking on this issue.
If they are soft, they are either inferior to start with or you have not processed them correctly. I, too, would find another supplier if they came in soft.
Carol Bice
If they are soft, they are either inferior to start with or you have not processed them correctly. I, too, would find another supplier if they came in soft.
Carol Bice
Flame
Active Member
yeah I am a gerb wirer....always have and always will. Especially down here they need to have support underwise they go bellyup.
So.... do those of you who wire gerbs wire roses too? The same principles that BJ mentioned apply there.
ctherose
New Member
I don't wire roses because a good rose doesn't need it (in fact, it seems preposterous to wire a rose these days), however, around here, I believe it's harder to find a good gerb. I do wire so I can adjust the way the head faces in a particular design, or for stability. I didn't wire them in a bridal bouque once and was sadly disappointed when I got to the reception and saw that the bride had been a little wild with her bouquet. It was a hot day as well, and I felt that had I wired, it definitely would have held up better. The gerbs seemed to be of good quality for that partiuclar wedding too. I also don't hesitate to make corsages & bouts up on Friday for a Saturday wedding. Don't normally have an issue with them lasting. And, yes, I do wire them for these as well, just like any other wire & tape job.
I agree, if you are wiring, you have an inferior product.
HOWEVER, not that I haven't resorted to that if I am a couple short and they are rubber necked and I truly need them just to look good for the day. When I do resort to that I wire straight up the stem so nobody would notice. I usually hit it right on the money, thought I would make a good heart cath tech.
If you are wiring roses these days, you need to find a different supplier, oh my goodness.
HOWEVER, not that I haven't resorted to that if I am a couple short and they are rubber necked and I truly need them just to look good for the day. When I do resort to that I wire straight up the stem so nobody would notice. I usually hit it right on the money, thought I would make a good heart cath tech.
If you are wiring roses these days, you need to find a different supplier, oh my goodness.
wedding boq's not vased...
I think things have been misunderstood here.... when I started this question I was only talking about wiring the gerbs in wedding bouquets, not because of inferior product, but because the brides and maids are so rough on the bouquets... when these girls came into the reception hall the were winding up and twisting the bouquets like they were going to lasso a groomsman and hog tie him (I think he escaped...). That is why I think it is good to wire the bouquets.... not because the gerbs are bad or soft or whatever... but to help them survive the rowdy crowd.
I don't wire gerbs in everyday bouquets, no need, nor do I wire roses, again no need... we get good product and I have never seen someone take their arrangement at work and whip it around their head like a rodeo cowboy ridin' down a calf
Iggy
I think things have been misunderstood here.... when I started this question I was only talking about wiring the gerbs in wedding bouquets, not because of inferior product, but because the brides and maids are so rough on the bouquets... when these girls came into the reception hall the were winding up and twisting the bouquets like they were going to lasso a groomsman and hog tie him (I think he escaped...). That is why I think it is good to wire the bouquets.... not because the gerbs are bad or soft or whatever... but to help them survive the rowdy crowd.
I don't wire gerbs in everyday bouquets, no need, nor do I wire roses, again no need... we get good product and I have never seen someone take their arrangement at work and whip it around their head like a rodeo cowboy ridin' down a calf
Iggy
Flowerchatter03
Co-Owner and Floral Composer
I like this idea! This technique used with the new aluminum wire would look great.
I don't normally wire gerberas either but I did have one bride a few weeks ago who wanted an "art inspired" bouquet of gerberas and the design was in a bouquet holder with the mini gerberas at weird angles (from the newer John Henry wedding book). So in this case, I had to wire.
cherrie
New Member
It depends on what I am doing with the gerberas to determine whether or not to wire. In foam, I always wire - if using the length of the stem, not if using the head close to the container.
In a vase, I don't wire.
The wires I use are the Stemsons accessories. The insertion into the gerbera is miniscule, smaller than a pin. If I am doing a wedding hand tie with large gerbs in the middle of August, I wire. Just make sure that my mechanics are well done. I actually think the Stemson wires look cute.
Both Hitomi and Phil have taught me to insert the wire down the center of the head, just like what was mentioned earlier. I think that wiring always eventually create black on the petals. Again, it depends on how you are going to use them and how much abuse they have to endure.
At the Rose Bowl, we wire many, many flowers.
In a vase, I don't wire.
The wires I use are the Stemsons accessories. The insertion into the gerbera is miniscule, smaller than a pin. If I am doing a wedding hand tie with large gerbs in the middle of August, I wire. Just make sure that my mechanics are well done. I actually think the Stemson wires look cute.
Both Hitomi and Phil have taught me to insert the wire down the center of the head, just like what was mentioned earlier. I think that wiring always eventually create black on the petals. Again, it depends on how you are going to use them and how much abuse they have to endure.
At the Rose Bowl, we wire many, many flowers.
Wiring gerbers
I went to a design show this past Sunday, J. Schwenke was the designer and he said he doesn't wire any flowers, not even roses, do you?
I went to a design show this past Sunday, J. Schwenke was the designer and he said he doesn't wire any flowers, not even roses, do you?
I totally understood what Iggy was asking.
I understand what BJ is saying too. However I don't totally agree with it.
Some designs (depending on what you are doing) may require a wire. It doesn't always mean the product is inferior. I have let gerbs sit out and get soft, then wire it to the shape I wanted and then re-hydrate it. Nothing wrong with that if you ask me.
Gerbs are very bacteria sensitive. For those of you who are having trouble with your gerbs lasting try adding only a bit of bleach to the water when you process your gerbs. Be sure your buckets are squeaky clean too. Also, vases have residue when they come in, so wash them before you use them. Also wash your tools. I know very few people who wash their tools on a regular basis.. And don't forget your cutter! It needs to be bleached too!
I personally can never ever get gerbs to last in foam... but they last for weeks in clean buckets.
No I do not wire roses, and I haven't since 1995.
Yes I do wire carns, especially for funeral work, Carns pop easily at the nodes. When those funeral directors are slinging those arrangements the way they do, carns can use all the help they can get.
I think there is no definite answer to these questions.
To be honest, I hate wiring anything because it takes time away from doing something else. But I do not have a problem with all aspects of wiring. sometimes it is necessary.
I understand what BJ is saying too. However I don't totally agree with it.
Some designs (depending on what you are doing) may require a wire. It doesn't always mean the product is inferior. I have let gerbs sit out and get soft, then wire it to the shape I wanted and then re-hydrate it. Nothing wrong with that if you ask me.
Gerbs are very bacteria sensitive. For those of you who are having trouble with your gerbs lasting try adding only a bit of bleach to the water when you process your gerbs. Be sure your buckets are squeaky clean too. Also, vases have residue when they come in, so wash them before you use them. Also wash your tools. I know very few people who wash their tools on a regular basis.. And don't forget your cutter! It needs to be bleached too!
I personally can never ever get gerbs to last in foam... but they last for weeks in clean buckets.
No I do not wire roses, and I haven't since 1995.
Yes I do wire carns, especially for funeral work, Carns pop easily at the nodes. When those funeral directors are slinging those arrangements the way they do, carns can use all the help they can get.
I think there is no definite answer to these questions.
To be honest, I hate wiring anything because it takes time away from doing something else. But I do not have a problem with all aspects of wiring. sometimes it is necessary.
For bridal/bridesmaids bouquets, the wiring not only helps the gerb stand up straight, but it mostly helps in design work. By working with a wired gerb, it's way easier to make the bouquets look good because you can bend and orient the flower heads as you need.
I've done tons of gerb bouquets and I'm truly annoyed when I'm at the mercy of the stem orientation... I've had perfectly healthy gerbs that had a croked stem, and then it's a little tricky to work into a bouquet...
That applies for hand-tieds, of course... I don't use foam bouquet handles for gerb bouquets.
I've done tons of gerb bouquets and I'm truly annoyed when I'm at the mercy of the stem orientation... I've had perfectly healthy gerbs that had a croked stem, and then it's a little tricky to work into a bouquet...
That applies for hand-tieds, of course... I don't use foam bouquet handles for gerb bouquets.
If they're processed with those little tubes around their necks, and/or you use a grid so they can sort of "hang" in the water rather than sitting at an angle in the bucket, they will harden straight for the most part.
If I need to wire a gerbera....I cut my gerbera to the length I need first, then I insert the wire through the hollow stem. I do this carefully as the wire can poke through the stem. This way I get the support of the wire with minimal damage to the gerbera.
However, If the Gerbera is the quality that they should be, processed correctly, with careful attention to Care and Handling......then you should not need to wire that flower under most conditions.
Now, If you are doing an abstract design and you need a weird or odd stem angle or curve......then you almost need a wired stem to do that....let's say that for the sake of illustration, you wanted to spiral the gerbera......The gebera stem is just not that pliable to do that......so, you would need to wire.
However, If the Gerbera is the quality that they should be, processed correctly, with careful attention to Care and Handling......then you should not need to wire that flower under most conditions.
Now, If you are doing an abstract design and you need a weird or odd stem angle or curve......then you almost need a wired stem to do that....let's say that for the sake of illustration, you wanted to spiral the gerbera......The gebera stem is just not that pliable to do that......so, you would need to wire.
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