Not quite sure how to do this...

[peggy70130]

I've just received an order for 17 of these, to be as closely alike as possible (their words were exactly alike). Now, I've done the odd cylinder like this, and was lucky enough to be able to find tulips or whatever flower I used, that were somewhat shaped for this. To have the arrangements be all the same, I'll have to shape the tulips. I think wiring and bending them will snap the stems, I've thought of letting them limp out and then shape each tulip in the cylinder, then adding water. Any ideas?

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

Yes the only way to get this look is to let them get limp and then shape them in the vase.
sometimes it take a while for them to get limp enough. It's easy to do.

 

[aileen_c]

How do you get the tulips to go limp?

 

[jonquil]

Also be aware tulips are geotropic and phototropic- they will "grow" towards the light and opposite a gravitational pull.. if you do the designs too far ahead of the party or event the curves of your stems and directions of the flower head will move..working curly willow in your desing can help hold them in place.

jan

 

[felicityflowers]

How do you get the tulips to go limp?

Leave them out of water.

 

[aileen_c]

I was thinking that Heather but being the NOO-B I wanted to make sure!!

 

[felicityflowers]

I was thinking that Heather but being the NOO-B I wanted to make sure!!

You have to watch them carefully, because you're essentially playing russian roulette. Leave them out too long and they are dead, not long enough and you'll break them trying to form them. Callas are the same way.

I usually do these pieces the moment that the flowers get delivered to the shop. I leave them in the boxes for a few hours out of the cooler and then check them. It doesn't take long, especially in our spring weather. Leaving them in the box allows for more humidity making them more pliable....at least in my experience.