Flower arranging skills: How to deal with flower incisions when arranging flowers

After the flowers are cut from the mother plant, due to various reasons, such as loss of root pressure, air entering the cut, unclean water quality, blockage or corruption of the cut, etc., it is often difficult for the flower branches to absorb water and wilt or fall early. In order to prolong the water maintenance time of flower arrangements and decorative art works, some measures are often taken before planting.

1. Beveled incision

Make an oblique incision of about 45° at the base of the material to expand the incision area and increase water absorption (wooden materials are more suitable for oblique cuts).

2. Incision hammer crack

Crack the base of the flower branch with a wooden hammer, or split the base of the flower branch lengthwise, and insert stones in the middle to expand the incision area and increase water absorption.

Incision scalding and burning

1. Incision dipping

This method is mostly used for herbaceous plants containing milk or pulp, such as poinsettia, silverside green, rubber tree, etc. First wrap the upper part of the flower material with paper or plastic film to prevent hot steam from damaging the flower part, and then immerse the cut part in boiling water for tens of seconds. This can prevent the continued outflow of milk and serous fluid, prevent clogging of the incision and water corruption, and also promote the absorption of water. Usually herbaceous stems should be soaked and blanched. This method can also be used for first aid for some flowers that are about to wilt. For example, if the chrysanthemum has wilted after being cut, immerse the base in 80-100°C water, take it out after 40 seconds and place it in cool water to recover.

2. Incision burning

This method is mostly used for woody plants containing milk or pulp. First wrap the upper part of the flower material with paper or plastic film, and then burn the cut part with fire until it becomes charred. This can prevent the continued outflow of milk and serous fluid, prevent clogging of the incision and water corruption, and also promote the absorption of water. Usually woody stems should be burned. This method can also be used for first aid on some flowers that are about to wilt.

Incision disinfection and water shearing

1. Incision disinfection

Use organic weak acids to sterilize, commonly used dilute solutions such as acetic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, citric acid, etc. to prevent the incisions of the material from being infected by fungi.

2. Shearing in water

More suitable for plants that do not contain latex slurry. Cut off the flower branches in water or immerse the base of the cut flower branches in water, then cut off a section, and then make it immediately to avoid excessive contact with the air and prevent the space from blocking the conduit and affecting the water absorption of the flower branches.