Flower Arrangement

Lesson 12 : Ikebana

Techniques/Tips for Ikebana

Sl.No	TIP	Valid for
1	When possible, cut plants early in the morning, in the evening or on rainy-days. Avoid cutting in the midday sum.	All plants
2	Avoid cutting plants on dry, windy days.	All plants
3	If you want to do something good for the plants, then pour water over them while cutting.	All plants
4	Whenever possible, carry the plants home in a damp cloth. This prevents premature drying out.	All plants; be careful with delicate blossoms and stamens
5	Always use very sharp garden shears or Ikebana shears with two cutting blades. The so-called rose shears are unsuitable for detailed work and delicate plants. They crush the vessels.	All flowers, grasses and leaves
6	Store flowers in a cool, dark room or in opaque foil until you are ready to begin your arrangement.	All plants
7	Place flowers and branches in deep water for a few hours before working with them.	All flowers
8	Remove as soon as possible all dead leaves and secondary sprouts which are not needed for the composition. They evaporate too much water.	Most leafy branches and flowers; especially branches with young leaves
9	Cut off a 1-2cm rim from very large leaves with sharp Ikebana shears. This increases the capillary effect.	For example the leaves of philodendron, etc.
10	Whenever possible use boiled or stale water. It contains less bacteria and less dissolved air that would form bubbles and block the vessels.	Most plants
11	Clean all Ikebana containers carefully removing mud and algae deposits. In this way you protect your materials from decay.
12	Clean you kenzan regularly before beginning work. You can use a needle, an old brush, or a kenzan-naoshi - a tool for straightening out the needles of the flower holder.
13	Shears, saws and knives should be clean
14	Make sure that as little decayed material as possible is in the water.	Leafy branches flower petals
15	Cut the plants thoroughly once or twice underwater before arranging them. In this way air bubbles cannot force their way into the vessels.	All plants but especially: mimosa, asters, cornflowers, fleur-de-lis, dahlias, marsh marigold, bell-flower, caladium, centaurea, etc.
16	The hollow stems of some plants can be filled with water by means of a special pump or a bicycle pump.	Lotus, water-lilies, bamboo, marsh marigold
17	Spray the arrangement several times a day with distilled water. This is especially important in heated rooms.	Most plants but not orchids
18	Make sure that the room is properly humidified. An electric humidifier is very handy.	All plants
19	Some plants cannot stand contact with iron. For this reason they are not cut but rather broken.	Chrysanthemums
20	If purchased flowers are already a bit flabby, you can improve them by placing them up to their heads in boiled water for 2 to 3 hours. First cut them under water.	Most flowers and branches especially roses
21	Place flowers in lukewarm water and let them rest, only then arrange.	Faded flowers
22	Should you want to freshen flowers by showering them, do so with the flower head away from the water, so that the stem and flower are moistened but the flower is not destroyed.	Cut flowers and leafy branches
23	Some flowers have to be cut on a slant before the 'refreshing' bath. This is best done with a very sharp knife or good ikebana shears.	Roses, flowers after long transport without water
24	The absorption surface can be increased by cutting slits 2-4cm long at the cut end.	Branches, flowers for arrangement
25	For some branches it is a good idea to tap the cut surface. To do this, one should use the handle or back of the Ikebana shears.	Woody branches, chrysanthemums
26	Remove decaying pieces immediately and change water. Decay-inducing bacteria increase very quickly. Decaying plants secrete ethyl gas which causes further decay.	All plants
27	Change the water every day. It is easy when you use a hand pump or a simple, thin, rubber tube.	All ikebana
28	If you put ice-cubes in the water - but not in the water of the freshening up bath - the flowers will not fade so quickly, and decay-inducing bacteria will not form so quickly.	Summer flowers like dahlias, or zinnias
29	Some plants freshen up quicker when the bark is pealed off at the cut end by about 2-3cm.	Leafy branches, chrysanthemums
30	There are branches which should be sharpened like a pencil before arranging them.	Branches, twigs
31	The cut edge of several plants can be held for 1-2 minutes in almost boiling water. Woody stems can stand 5 minutes of this treatment, but softer stems can only tolerate water at 50°C. The rest of the plant must be protected from the heat and from the hot steam by means of a damp cloth.	Thistles, dahlias, peonies, Salomon's seal, 'milk' secreting plants like the spurge, be careful with: chrysanthemums, clivia, daffodils, roses
32	Stems secreting milk can be singed at the cut edge. Be careful to protect the rest of the plant from the candle gas flame or lighter by using a damp piece of cloth or paper. After this, place the stem immediately in water so that the singed cut edge can absorb water.	Spurge, rubber tree
33	Spraying with hair spray or florist spray prevents too rapid drying out.	Bamboo, large-leaved tropical plants
34	Florists offer a variety of products to keep flowers fresh. You have to try them yourself to find out which solutions are best for which flowers since water composition and flower quality are always different. The solution is added to the water according to the directions of the manufacturer. In this way decay-inducing bacteria are prevented and a bit of fertilizer is added.	Certain plants; follow manufacturers' instructions
35	Stems which have been tapped can be rubbed with cooking salt on the cut edge. Place plants immediately in freshening up bath for several hours.	Roses, bell-flowers
36	A solution made of a half a cup of water and 2 teaspoons of table salt can be used as a stimulant. The stems are placed in this solution for 1-2 minutes, then in deep fresh water for 1-2 hours before being placed in an arrangement.	Roses, bell-flowers
37	Some plants can be placed in a 'freshening up' bath of alcohol (medical alcohol, gin). The cut edge is dried with a cloth beforehand.	Maple branches, poppies, mimosa, thistles, caladium, gerbera
38	The dampened cut edge of some flowers can be placed in alum powder (double salt, sulphate of potassium and sulphate of aluminium).	Wisteria sinensis, dahlias, peonies
39	A few minutes in vinegar help another group of plants to stay fresher and longer.	Reeds, bamboo, miscanthus
40	The ability of plants to absorb water can be increased by placing the stems in water in which ashes have been stirred.	Campanella
41	A very good stimulant is peppermint oil. The cut edge is submerged in it for a short time.	Daisies
42	Other plants react better to the Spicy juice of pepperoni.	Grasses
	It is very difficult to keep bamboo fresh. You can try to boil the ends in a solution made of two heaped teaspoons of salt and one-quarter litre water. Take care to protect the rest of the plant. Rub the leaves on both sides with sugar water so that they don't roll up so quickly. Finally make a hole in the walls between the knots of the tubes and fill the segments with boiling salt solution.	Bamboo