How to Make Cut Hydrangeas Last Longer

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We love hydrangeas they bloom so beautiful and full. Working with them is another story, they often wilt easily when used in an arrangement. They have very thick wood-like stem that expels a sticky substance that often clogs the stems, preventing moisture from reaching the blooms.  Alaric Flowers is here to give you some of our tried and true techniques that work to get the maximum life out of your hydrangeas,

The Hot Water Method

1. Immediately after cutting each bloom, drop the stem in the water.
2. Boil water and pour it into a cup or any container.
3. Cut the hydrangea stems to the desired length.
4. Stand the stems of the hydrangeas in the hot water for 30 seconds.
5. Immediately put into room temperature water and then arrange.

The Alum Dip Method

1. The alum used in this method can usually be found in the spice section of the grocery store. Occasionally it is found with the pickling supplies.
2. As you arrange the blooms, re-cut the stems and dip the bottom 1/2 inch of stem into powdered alum.
3. Arrange as usual in water. 

REVIVING WILTED BLOOMS IN AN ARRANGEMENT:

1. If the water in the arrangement is more than a day old, change it for fresh water before beginning the revival process.
2. Re-cut the stems of the wilted hydrangeas by removing a portion at the bottom.
3. Use the Boiling Water Method: Boil water and pour it into a cup.
4. Stand the stems of the wilted hydrangeas in this water for 30 seconds.
5. Immediately put into room temperature water (this usually means back into the arrangement).
6. If the blooms are not too old, within a couple of hours they will have completely revived. Occasionally, the revival process will take several hours. In most cases, the blooms will look as fresh as the first day.

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Dunk Method

1. Or you can dunk the entire hydrangea head into cool water 

2. Let it soak for 20-30 minutes.

3. Place the stem in fresh water
4. After 24 hours your bloom should be good as new                                                                                                                                                                           

The maintenance for hydrangeas may seem like a lengthy process but the results are way worth the efforts.

Enjoy your blooms!

Have you ever received a beautiful Alaric flower arrangement and wanted to preserve it forever? Well we have some tips that just might do the trick. Follow these handy steps to create a gift that keeps on giving!

1. The Microwave Method

Who knew cat litter could be used for something other than the litter box! You can dry flowers in minutes instead of weeks by using a microwave. Choose the flowers for drying. One at a time, place the flower in a microwavable bowl and cover with about four cups of cat litter. Microwave on high for two to three minutes. When the cat litter is cooled, remove the flower and brush off excess.

2. Silica Gel

If you want your flowers to look just like they did in your garden, trying using silica gel. The sandy-like substance can be found at craft stores and works best with sturdy flowers like zinnias or roses. Bury your blooms in a large container of silica gel. In a few days to a week, gently uncover vibrant, preserved flowers.

3. Pressing Method 

To use dry flowers for more than household decorating, use the pressed method. Take an encyclopedia or other heavy book. Line a page with parchment or wax paper and arrange flowers face down so they don't overlap. Close the book and leave untouched for about a week or more. Once all the moisture is gone and they have a papery texture, you can use them to make bookmarks, jewelry, greeting cards, or wall art.




4. Air Drying

Hanging bouquets upside down is the most traditional technique. Gather the flowers in a bunch and secure the stems with a rubber band. Hang upside down in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight, like from kitchen rafters or in an empty closet. Watch the petals shrink and change color, and within a few weeks you'll have beautiful dried flowers in vintage hues.

5. The Easy Way

Drying flowers in a vase is effortless. Place the stalks in a few inches of water and forget about them. Once all the water is evaporated, the flowers should be upright and perky, but dry. Hydrangeas or baby's breath are good choices for this method, as blooms with more tender stalks might droop. Simply use the vase as a table decoration or remove the flowers, tie a ribbon around the stems and hang on the wall.

Drying out your flowers arrangements is a great way to enjoy your flowers year round; they offer a unique texture and design effect to any room. It takes little effort and lands great results!

Trend Watch: Terrariums

Even though Fall is upon us why not hold onto a little bit of Summer with a simple and eye catching terrarium. They’ve certainly gone main-stream and can be found in homes, offices, and businesses. Modern terrariums are one of the latest trends in home décor and plant and flower decorating options.

The supplies needed to build a terrarium can be found at most garden stores—from the proper plants to the soil and pebbles as well as glass containers and domes of all sizes. Accent pieces such as orchids, drift wood, sea shells, or any other miniature decoration are also useful to add a bit of color and whimsy to your encapsulated arrangement.

      Supplies:           
      1. Small rocks or pebbles for drainage and texture                                                                                                                      

2. Small piece of charcoal (the type found in the pet supply department for aquarium filters.)
3. Potting soil.
4. Miniature house plants and mosses. Ivy, ferns, succulents, and orchids work well.   5. Sand                                                                                                             6. Driftwood or branches                                                                                     7. Glass container with no lid                                                                                     8. Spray mist bottle of water

Directions:
1. Line the bottom of a glass jar with pebbles—one inch is usually adequate.
2. Place a small piece of charcoal in the middle of the pebbles. The charcoal helps to keep the soil fresh.
3. Add a few inches of potting soil and sand to the layer of pebbles and charcoal.
4. Gently place three or four small plants into the container. Make sure the plants are nestled together but not crowded or root bound.                                                             5. Arrange live moss around the plants. The moss adds visual appeal as well as lending support and anchorage for the plants.                                                                        6. Mist the terrarium and cover.                                                                             7. Place your terrarium in an area with moderate light, making sure that the terrarium is not exposed to direct sunlight.

Maintenance:
Open the lid of the terrarium and feel the soil every week or two. If the dirt is moist to the touch and condensation is built up in the terrarium, it’s fine. If the soil feel dry, mist until dew drops appear on the leaves of the plants and on the insides of the glass.

-Contact Alaric Flower Design for custom one of kind Terrariums for your home or office!

How to Care for Your Fresh Flower Arrangements

Every day at Alaric Flowers we get calls from people wondering how best to care for their fresh flower arrangements. We have a few techniques to help keep your flowers looking fresh and beautiful.

-Fresh flowers need care and the better you care for them the longer they last.

Never leave the arrangement in direct sun, they can actually burn if you keep them too warm or near the sun.

-It is also very important to keep the water fresh and clean. We suggest that every other day you change the water in the vase. If you carefully pour the original water out of the vase and replace it with room temperature water, then there will be less bacteria growth and the flowers will stay fresh longer.

-If you are able to pull the entire bouquet out of the vase, it is not a bad idea to give the flowers a fresh cut as well. This will ensure that the flowers will stay really hydrated and keep them from starting to wilt.

-It is best to cut the flowers at an angle in order to expose a larger surface area to the water. You can sometimes give the vase a quick wash while I have the flowers out of the vase. This ensures that any bacteria that might have started to grow will be eliminated so that the flowers have a truly fresh environment. It is not necessary, however, to wash the container every time.

-All flowers have a different vase life. Some flowers, such as orchids, last a very long time when cut, while other flowers, like hydrangeas, have a shorter vase life. You can always pull out flowers as they expire and either replace them with new flowers, shift the arrangement around, or even break it up into smaller vases. By pulling out the flowers as they expire, you will be able to enjoy each and every stem in the arrangement!

Uses of Roses

"A rose by any other name wouldn't be as sweet."

How about a rose by any other use? Besides being beautiful and smelling sweet, roses actually have quite a few other uses!

1. Skin care. This blog has the recipe for rose water, which is the base for toner and a delicious sounding mud mask!

2. Cooking. You can add some types of rose petals to foods to increase flavor or as a garnish for desserts. The damascena and apothecary roses are most used for culinary endeavors. You can also make jam (or buy it...) our of rose hips.

3. Secret meetings. Yes, secret meetings! In ancient Greece, they decorated the ceiling of a room to indicate a secret meeting was taking place. Not sure how secret that was since everyone knew, but ok!

4. Medicine. Roses actually contain many essential vitamins! They have Vitamin C, pectic, malic and citric acids. Rose hip or rose petal tea removes toxins from the body, can cure colds, is a great remedy for stomach problems, and even irregular periods or infertility, according to this website.

There you have it. The many uses of the wonderful rose. Anybody have any other interesting uses or remedies? Share them in the comments!