Christmas bouquet 1: Christmas flowers as shining stars
During the dark days of December, any light is welcome. This bouquet, with Amaryllis as the shining star, brings cheer and warmth into your home.
Chrysanthemum and Lisianthus give the bouquet a warm and romantic look and feel. Dried flowers, including Baby's breath and Limonium make the bouquet feel airy and playful, as well as ensuring it will last for a good long time in your vase. This bouquet brings light wherever its placed, on your dining table or in the kitchen, as well as making an excellent gift.
You will need:
- Amaryllis
- Chrysanthemum
- Lisianthus
- Violet
- Gypsophila
- Rose
- Ranunculus
- Limonium
- A sturdy, tall vase (so that the sturdy stems of Amaryllis stay put)
Tips for making this Christmas bouquet
Build the bouquet stem by stem. First place the gypsophila in the vase, then the other flowers, and finish with the heavier Amaryllis stem(s). This way the Amaryllis ‘wedges’ itself between the other flowers, making the bouquet more sturdy.
Christmas bouquet 2: a grandly festive bouquet
If you want to pull out all the stops and indulge in a festive extravaganza this year, our grand Christmas bouquet positively bursting with seasonal flowers and branches is an obvious choice.
Flowers including Orchids, Roses and Delphiniums bring a romantic energy perfect for the season of joy, and branches such as Eucalyptus and Ilex provide a stylish, evergreen look and feel. This bouquet deserves a place of honour.
you will need:
- Delphinium
- Stock
- Ranunculus
- Carnation
- Snapdragon
- Cymbidium
- Phalaenopsis
- Cambria
- Roses (we used Queen's heart, Red Naomi and Secret garden)
- Flame lily
- Eucalyptus baby blue
- Ilex aquifolium
- Conifer/thuya
- A large, sturdy vase
Tips for making this Christmas bouquet
- A layer of chicken wire placed over the top of the vase can help you to position the flowers more securely.
- Stuffing/stones at the bottom of the vase can help to give the flowers more height.
- You can also use durable florist's foam/oasis to tuck the flowers into.
- With this bouquet, think especially about the three-dimensional shape, considering the front and sides as well as the top. The shape you aim for depends on where you want to place the bouquet. If you place the bouquet against a wall - as in our example - then make sure the back is flatter.
- If necessary, ask your local florist for help in arranging this grand Christmas bouquet.
How to keep your Christmas bouquet looking fabulous for as long as possible
If you've brought a Christmas bouquet into your home, or given it as a present, you naturally want the flowers to look their best in their vase for as long as possible. Check out our best tips and tricks to keep flowers beautiful for as long as possible and see our advice below on how to extend the vase life of your flowers:
- Make sure your vase is the right shape and size for the bouquet, and that it's spotless.
- Trim the flowers diagonally with a sharp and clean knife
- Fill the vase with a layer of lukewarm water
- Add cut flower food to prolong the life of your flowers
- Make sure no leaves hang into the water, so remove any lower leaves from the stems
- Don't place your bouquet in direct sunlight, in a draught or near a heater.
- Avoid placing your bouquet next to a fruit bowl. Ripening fruit can release ethylene gas, which causes flowers to ripen and wilt.
- Change the vase water regularly, preferably every two days regardless of whether the water looks dirty or not. Replace the vase water completely (i.e. do not top up, but pour out). If desired, you can add more plant food and recut the stems.
- If the vase water becomes dirty but your flowers are still looking good, rinse the stems, cut them at an angle again and refresh the vase water once more.
more christmas inspiration
Can't get enough of the most wonderful time of the year? Check out these clever alternatives to the classic Christmas tree, or discover our picks of the best plants to give as Christmas gifts. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more Christmas inspiration.
