On the kitchen table red tulips shine in a glass carafe from the flea market, in the living room pink quince blossoms gradually unfold on long branches in a jug, on the bedside table the view of delicate rose heads calms the crisis-ridden head before falling asleep. When the world is raging, it needs even more than usual: fresh flowers. There are a few tricks to help ensure that the colors on the table look particularly good – and stay beautiful for a long time.
What kind of bouquet would you like?
A Handful of Bunt is the perfect getaway from world events. Yellow and blue, pink and violet: the old rascal Spring knows very well that bright colors make the heart skip a beat. Karin Heimberger also has onion flowers in the vases according to the season, such as tulips and daffodils, buttercups and freesias, “they open little by little and smell just wonderful”. The editor of the lovingly designed flower magazine Let it bloom has been observing how ideas about the perfect bouquet have changed for a number of years – away from the rigidly arranged bouquet towards natural-looking and loosely arranged bouquets or even just individual blossoms in the vase. She recommends anyone who wants to put together their own bouquet: “It’s best to put foliage in the vase first to create a framework. Then it’s easier to arrange individual blossoms.”
Bouquets can be varied for a while by removing faded flowers and adding new ones.
(Photo: Mandy Reschke/mauritius images / Westend61)
Which vase for which flowers?
Karin Heimberger believes that you can never have enough vases. “What other shoes are, vases are for me,” says the Munich resident. However, a few classic shapes are enough for a balanced variety; more unusual ones, such as the wavy glass vase by Alvar Aalto for Iittala, are difficult to fill.
The bulbous vase: Lush bouquets look good in bulbous vases; the stalks have enough space and the flowers appear without sticking together. It is perfect for heavy blooms like peonies or hydrangeas that need support at the edges.
The tall, straight vase: Here, loosely arranged or minimalist bouquets fall to the side, but not apart. Individual blossoms with erect stems or twigs, such as the bright yellow forsythia, also feel at home here.
The pitcher: You can find a large variety of such vases at the flea market. Although they take up a lot of space in the kitchen cupboard, long-stemmed plants such as lilies, gladioli or grasses are particularly effective. When arranging, it is best to cross individual stems so that the bouquet stands up better. If you don’t have the heart to throw away your favorite leaky vase: simply place an empty jam or pickle jar in it and hide it in the vase as a vase.
Danish classic among bulbous vases: “Omaggio” by Kähler, 20 centimeters high (from around 30 euros).
(Photo: manufacturer)
For minimalists: For a better hold, florists like to use a spike, a round piece of metal with nails that goes to the ground and onto which individual stems can be skewered. There are also extra Ikebana vases with an insert into which individual flowers are placed. However, you can also support flowers by sticking (florist’s) tape criss-crossed over the vase opening as a grid. Alternatively, you can crumple up some rabbit wire, lay the structure on the ground and use the openings in the metal as a support.
The mini vases: Whether it’s a uniform set from the designer or a jumbled mess from the flea market – mini vases in different shapes and sizes are suitable for smaller flowers such as snowdrops, primroses, grape hyacinths or forget-me-nots. There is also space for broken blossoms, souvenirs from a midday walk or leftovers from faded bouquets.
How does a bouquet stay beautiful longer?
As long as it’s still cold outside, many varieties have to get used to the warmer room temperature first. The British flower expert and author Louise Curley (“Fresh Flowers!”, Gerstenberg-Verlag, currently only available used) advises wrapping tulips in newspaper for a few hours and placing them in a bucket of water. This should keep them beautiful and straight for longer. Tulips continue to grow in the vase. You can slow them down a bit by not giving them too much water at once. Alternatively, you can carefully pierce the stems below the flower with a needle.
Unusual shape: The “Muse” vase by Fundamental Berlin is made by glassblowers in Bohemia (149.90 euros).
(Photo: manufacturer)
Beat thick, woody rose or lilac stems flat for the vase – Louise Curley, on the other hand, doesn’t believe in that. Rather, it makes it more difficult for the stems to absorb water and provides bacteria with food through the particles floating in the water (therefore always remove the lowest leaves before you put flowers in the vase!). Better: cut at a flat angle and split about 2.5 cm deep in the middle. Flowers like poppies, roses or dahlias stay fresher longer if their ends are dipped in hot water for a few seconds, Curley says.
Speaking of water: In addition to the preservative from the florist, some swear by a little sugar and a dash of (apple) vinegar or a crumb of aspirin. In fact, the best trick remains: cleaning the vase every two days, freshly cutting off the stems and changing the water. Everyone knows, but nobody does. If you buy daffodils, it is best to put them separately in a vase after they have been cut, as they secrete mucus that other flowers cannot easily get rid of. Bouquets should not be placed too close to fruit and vegetables, because some varieties release the ripening gas ethylene – which causes the neighbors to wilt faster.
When the flowers have finally faded, you and your next bouquet will be very happy if the vase is really clean. The debris left by plant stems harbors bacteria that shorten the life of cut flowers. Old household remedy, because not every vase can go in the dishwasher: add water and undiluted table vinegar or two to three tablespoons of citric acid or baking soda for a few hours, then rinse.
For broken flowers and souvenirs from a walk: mini vase set in taupe from Studio Drei (54 euros).
(Photo: manufacturer)
Where is the best place to buy your flowers?
Long transport routes, pesticide boosters, exploitation of people and nature: If you want to have flowers at home, you can also ask yourself under what conditions they were grown and whether the rose from Ecuador is actually a sensible purchase. Pleasure in flowers – sometimes that means doing without, just like you don’t buy the bowl of strawberries in December. However, many florists are increasingly focusing on seasonal and regional flowers (e.g slowflower-bewegung.de).
Britain’s Louise Curley, on the other hand, encourages gardeners to grow their own cut flowers and recommends dahlias, sweet peas, cosmos flowers, cornflowers, delphiniums and sweet peas to get started. Unfortunately, such color explosions still take a little time before we enjoy them. Until then, what the composer Max Reger said applies: “It works without flowers, but not as well.”