Episode 20:
Have you seen some of the floristry tutorials doing the rounds on social media lately?
Some are fantastic. They're creative, inspiring and show just how far floral design has come. But others leave me wondering what on earth we're teaching the next generation of florists!
I'm all for experimenting, developing your own style and breaking a few traditional floral design rules. In fact, I encourage it.
But there are some things in professional floristry that really shouldn't be negotiable.
And I'm not talking about whether a design is beautiful, whether I personally like the colour combination or whether it follows traditional design principles.
I'm talking about the fundamentals that separate professional floristry from work that simply isn't up to scratch.
In the latest episode of The Flowery Folk Podcast, I'm sharing five essentials I believe every florist should be getting right.
Whether you're working in a retail flower shop, creating wedding and event flowers or studying floristry, these are the little (and sometimes not so little) things that make a big difference.
1. Good Floristry Starts With Good Flower Care
You can be the most talented floral designer in the world, but if you're working with poor-quality flowers or you don't know how to care for them properly, you're already on the back foot.
Flower selection and care are fundamental skills in professional floristry.
Understanding how to recognise quality flowers, knowing the correct stage of development for your intended design and being able to identify signs of damage, disease or ageing are all essential.
And once those flowers arrive in your studio or retail flower shop, looking after them correctly is just as important.
That means clean buckets and vessels, appropriate conditioning, correct storage temperatures and understanding the individual hydration needs of different flowers and foliage.
Not every flower likes the same treatment.
For example, some flowers, including hydrangeas and certain orchids, can benefit from soaking or immersion, while others, such as roses, can develop problems when treated the same way.
It's about understanding the product you're working with rather than assuming every flower needs the same care.
And don't overlook the importance of flower food, clean water and giving your flowers enough space in their buckets.
Professional tip: If you're unsure about the care requirements of a particular flower, look it up. Even after more than 20 years working with flowers, I still refer to my books when I need a refresher.
2. Choose the Right Floral Design Mechanics for the Job
This is one of those areas where social media can be a little misleading.
We see beautiful floral installations being created using chicken wire, water vessels, floral foam and all sorts of clever mechanics.
But just because something works in a video doesn't mean it's the right solution for every situation.
As a wedding and event florist working in Far North Queensland, I often create large floral designs outdoors, sometimes in extreme heat, high humidity and strong coastal winds.
An arbour arrangement created using nothing but chicken wire might look fabulous in a tutorial, but it's not necessarily going to survive those conditions.
My flowers need adequate hydration, proper support and the ability to withstand whatever the weather throws at them.
That's why I believe every professional florist should have a good understanding of different floral mechanics and when to use them.
Whether you're using chicken wire, floral foam, water vessels, structural supports or a combination of techniques, your mechanics should suit the design's purpose.
You also need to consider transportation, installation and stability.
The important thing isn't which mechanic is fashionable. It's whether it's the right mechanic for the job.
3. Make Sure Your Floral Design Is Fit for Purpose
One of the interesting things about floristry is that we're often creating something for two different people.
There's the customer ordering the flowers and then there's the person receiving them.
And sometimes their needs can be quite different.
Consider the difference between a birthday bouquet for Nana and a table arrangement for a corporate event.
For Nana's bouquet, we're probably selecting flowers that will continue opening and provide enjoyment over the next week.
For the event centrepiece, we want flowers that look their absolute best on the night.
The stage of development, expected lifespan and even the types of flowers we select might be completely different.
Now think about an arrangement being delivered to a hospital.
Does it need its own water source? Will it fit comfortably on a small bedside table? Are the flowers heavily scented and potentially overwhelming in an enclosed space?
And compare that with a large floral installation designed for a hotel foyer.
Both are floral designs, but their requirements are vastly different.
As professional florists, our responsibility is to understand where the flowers are going, who they're for and what they need to achieve.
A beautiful arrangement that doesn't work for its intended purpose isn't necessarily a successful design.
4. Be Intentional With Colour in Floral Design
Colour is probably the most subjective of my five essentials, and I'm certainly not suggesting that we all need to follow a particular set of colour rules.
In fact, some of the most exciting floral designs come from unexpected and unconventional combinations.
But I do think we need to be intentional about our choices.
Colour is often the first thing someone notices when they look at a floral arrangement. Before they see the finer design details, they're responding to the overall colour palette.
And colour creates emotion.
Think about the feeling you're trying to communicate.
Is this a celebration? A sympathy arrangement? A corporate installation? Something soft and romantic or bright and energetic?
There's no single correct palette for every occasion, and personal taste will always play a part.
But as floral designers, we should understand the mood and message we're creating.
Don't just grab whatever happens to be left in the studio and whack it together.
Make your colour choices deliberate.
5. A Professional Finish Makes All the Difference
Now, this one is probably my biggest pet peeve.
Exposed floral mechanics!
There's nothing worse than seeing a beautifully designed wedding arbour, only to discover a professional photograph taken from the side showing chicken wire, floral foam or ugly bindings hanging out everywhere.
It looks unfinished and, quite frankly, unprofessional.
And it's not just large floral installations.
The same principle applies to a small flower arrangement, a presentation bouquet or a simple bunch of flowers leaving your retail shop.
Take a moment to inspect your work from every angle.
Can you see the mechanics? Are there damaged petals or broken stems? Are your foliage cuts neat?
And what about the finishing touches?
Is the bouquet wrapping tidy? Are your ribbons cut cleanly? Are your bows neatly tied? Is that branded sticker actually straight?
Yes, I have a thing about crooked stickers!
These might seem like tiny details, but they're often what separates an ordinary bunch of flowers from a beautifully finished professional product.
And the finishing doesn't stop when the design leaves your studio.
If you're delivering flowers, make sure whoever is transporting them understands how to check for damage, tidy up any displaced flowers and top up the water before handing them over.
The customer should receive flowers that look just as beautiful as they did when they left your workbench.
Does Your Floral Design Look Worth What Your Customer Paid?
There's another important aspect of professional presentation that we don't always talk about.
Perceived value.
If someone pays $200 for a bouquet, does it actually look and feel like a $200 bouquet?
I'm not talking about whether you've calculated your costs correctly. That's a whole other conversation.
I'm talking about the experience your customer receives.
Does the finished product look special? Have you chosen quality flowers? Is the presentation considered? Does it have something that makes it stand apart from a supermarket bunch?
Professional floristry is about delivering value through your knowledge, creative skills, quality and attention to detail.
And that applies whether you're selling a $50 bouquet or designing flowers for a luxury wedding.
The little things matter.
Good Floristry Is About More Than Pretty Flowers
These five essentials aren't about restricting creativity or suggesting there's only one right way to design with flowers.
Far from it.
Floristry is a wonderfully creative industry, and I love seeing designers challenge traditional techniques and explore new ideas.
But creativity and professionalism should go hand in hand.
Understanding flower care, selecting appropriate mechanics, designing for the intended purpose, making considered colour choices and taking pride in the final presentation are all fundamental skills.
And they're relevant whether you've been a florist for 20 years or you're just getting started.
So, before your next bouquet, arrangement or floral installation heads out the door, give it one last look.
Have you done everything you can to make it the best it can be?
Because sometimes it's those final little details that make the biggest difference.
Listen to the Full Episode
In this episode of The Flowery Folk Podcast, I'm talking through these five essentials in more detail, sharing examples from my own floristry experience and explaining a few of my biggest professional pet peeves.
Stopping Shitty Floristry: 5 Essentials of Good Floral Design
Listen to the episode and let me know if there's something you'd add to the list.
And if you'd like to develop your floral design skills, explore our online floristry education at The Flowery Folk School.