My competition still uses crushed styro. in vases

KABERS

KABERS

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Jan 3, 2005
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I spent quality time in the funeral home yesterday and today. One of the other florist still designs with crush. Drives me totally insane! A vase next to this vase, made by the high-end shop in town was really pretty, and nicely done but the water was so murky, it just ruined the beauty. I wonder what normal non-florist people think when they look at these arrangements? I'll bet if I took a poll today the crush arrangement would have won. It was bigger and whiter and probably was 30 bucks cheaper.
 
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There are a couple of florists in our area that still use crushed styro, I also cannot stand it. We are fanatics about changing the water also murky is so bad. Also It doesn't do the flowers any good to be sitting in that bacterial water . We are trying to train our regular customers to change the water every few days, for the most part 99% of them are so appreciative for the input. It is so worth it going the extra mile, you will get them back as returning customers..............I agree with you totally
 
oh yes, I have two shops in our area that still uses it but neither has ever done a hand tied, never mind a spiral or kubari - they have no design education nor attend any shows. Maybe that is the case with that shop also. Doesn't move ahead or seek education or trend watches?
 
When R.C. and I first starting e-mailing, his web-site was showing clear vases with white styro. I kidded him a little and he told me the styro made the flowers last longer.

Anyone here ever test that? I have a strong suspicion R.C. had!
 
yeah, it's the same. many many years ago most florist used it in vases and maches. I think it went out of style in about 1990. I just can't believe that florist doesn't get complaints on a regular basis.
 
I can safely say that if you leave flower stems in shredded styro for longer than 5 days (without changing water), you will have a green or brown scum from the stems. I'd say nope, unless he special ordered his styro with special properties. We used shredded/shaved styro for many years - was how I was taught to do 1/2 and doz roses.......(remember the "tickler").
 
eeeeshk....I'm pretty embarassed.....I have to say that, from time to time, we used shaved styro in our vases. We use it when a vase is deep and the flowers need a boost to stick up at the right height.

What else would you use in a large deep vase to keep them up to the proper height of the container? I would think stones would be to heavy to prop up. Should we be using a grid instead or something else that I don't know about?
 
If I lace/hand tie the greens first, sometimes it will hold flowers in place that are too short for the container BUT you must have stable heavier stemmed flowers in place before adding the shorter ones and make sure they are well below the waterline.
 
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I swar that we had customers in earlier years telling us that their flowers lasted longer than a normal vase. Some even think its crushed ice.

I dont remember when I used snow the last time.

Luc
 
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lil_goldie said:
Rhonda, I'm on my way to your shop. I'm going to do a placement there for a week and you're going to teach me all your tricks
see you in the morning
PS I like my coffee black and my eggs over easy
Click to expand...

I think I'm only like 3 hours away through VT, NH to ME!
 
I have freelanced at a shop that still used the white shredded stryrofoam ( snow ) quite often. I will be honest, it freaked me out at first and i had the hell of a time getting used to it.

Now, in certain applications, and in particular for this time of year, I like the icy/wintery effect it can give.......particularly when combined with faux flocked evergreens, silver glittered branches, and other wintery appearing materials.

As with other 'antiquated' methods.......they still have a place in our repetoire of skills that we can use as designers to give our customers the best effects and looks we can give them for their hard-earned dollars.
 
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I can see using it to create an effect or winter look as you said. But to use it as a crutch to hold your flowers in place? um no. If I'm requesting a vase arrangement from another florist, I wouldn't think to ask if they use shred.
 
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Last time I saw our shredded stryo, it was on the way to the dump...before being "green" and all...but recently..today actually I got into a discussion about a Christmas design that one of my designers wants to create as a special...yep..you got it..shredded stryo...it is for a party and we are going to experiment and see how it looks with acolytes in a bubble bowl..lomey on top with flowers..anybody used it with lights?
 
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KABERS said:
I can see using it to create an effect or winter look as you said. But to use it as a crutch to hold your flowers in place? um no. If I'm requesting a vase arrangement from another florist, I wouldn't think to ask if they use shred.
Click to expand...

I think now to get the "winter effect", I'd use poly or rock crystals instead. Styro is "cheap" IMHO ----usually it's crammed into the container to get the right "hold factor"
 
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KABERS said:
But to use it as a crutch to hold your flowers in place? um no.
Click to expand...

At our shop, it's not really a crutch. For example, I have a vase at home that is 15" deep and has an 8" opening. It's quite large. I recently sold this same vase to a gentleman who wanted an arrangement done in it.
How would you have done that arrangement (Mixed garden bouquet). Obviously, the flowers have to be propped up on something or they would sink into the vase and not be tall enough.
The designer used the shredded styro to help hold them up.

So this begs the question, what would you do differently?

I love these types of threads, I learn so much.
 
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