A bride's mom in Austin said my centerpieces looked 'too perfect' last month

She meant they looked stiff and not natural. I was using a ton of floral foam and wiring every stem. Now I try to build at least half of each arrangement just letting stems sit in water, using chicken wire for support instead. It takes more time but the loose, garden style gets way more compliments. Anyone else switch from foam to more old school methods recently?

4 comments

4 Comments

sanchez.mary1mo ago

That loose, garden style really does make a difference.

jessica7071mo ago

Saw a thing about how that style actually helps plants grow stronger.

willowg881mo ago

Jessica707 is right about that. It's called stress training, basically putting the plant under a little bit of pressure. You see it a lot with tomatoes, where you let them get a bit dry between waterings. It forces the roots to grow deeper and search for water, which builds a much stronger system.

the_max1mo ago

Switching from all foam was the best thing I did for my work. That stiff look just doesn't sell anymore. Letting stems move in water with chicken wire gives you that loose, natural vibe people want now. It's exactly what @jessica707 was getting at, that style lets the flowers have more life and character. You do have to work a bit slower and handle stems more carefully, but the final look is worth the extra time. Clients really notice the difference and it feels more like real arranging.