How to Decorate a Single Stem Flower

Tie a ribbon into a simple two-loop bow two inches below the bloom on a single-stem flower such as a lily or rose. Make a simple shoe-tying bow and carefully adjust each loop so that they're the same size. Cut the ends of the ribbon into points, leaving 4-inch to 8-inch streamers. Center the single stem in a simple container, such as a tube-shaped pillar candle-holder. Decorate each place setting for a dinner party, reception or wedding with one flower. Alternatively, tie curled gift-wrapping ribbon around the stem of single sunflowers, daisies or dahlias for a children's party or a baby shower.

Gently fold each petal of a tulip back toward its stem to give this common flower a new look. The opened tulip displays glossy color from inside the bloom, giving a new decorative effect to this classic single-stem flower. Display your mutant tulip in a bud vase or wall sconce with at least six inches of its curved stem exposed between the vase rim and the bloom.

Lay tropical flowers on newspaper and spray them with cooking oil, holding the spray 12 inches from the flowers and using an even sweeping motion to result in a light coating. This gives the flowers a light-catching shine and helps them to hold moisture, which preserves them longer. Cut each stem to twice the height of the desired container or less. Display each single-stem tropical flower in separate, unexpected containers for a fresh effect. For example, lean a bird of paradise so that its stem rests in the spout of a pitcher used as a vase. Display a spear of red ginger in a chrome watering can and a large heart-red anthurium in a narrow galvanized bucket.