Types of Flowers to Use in Glass Vases

Flowers

• Choose flowers and foliage with long stems that lift the blooms and leaves above the water level in glass vases. Remove leaves below the top of the vase to eliminate foliage decay that distracts from the beauty of your bouquet. Leafless stems in a cut glass vase are an attractive part of an arrangement. Good flower choices include long-lasting Black Magic, St. Patrick, Elizabeth Taylor and Crystalline roses. Calla lilies and tulips are excellent choices for spring and summer bouquets while spider mums and carnations are wonderful for fall. Pair white roses, snapdragons, iris, Gerbera daisies, baby's breath and lilies in a deep blue glass vase or red roses, purple stock, white button poms, blue statice and green daisy poms in a red glass vase. Feature a few freesias in a tall vase or single sprays of orchids or roses in tiny bud vases.

Preparation

• Clean water is vital to healthy bouquets and sanitizing containers lengthens the life of the flowers. Glass vases make cleaning easy because you can see the buildup and scrub it away with a bottle brush and soapy hot water. Sanitize the vase in a 5 percent dilution of 1 cup bleach per 1 gallon of water after cleaning, and wipe the blades of any cutters you use with the bleach.

  Cut flower stems on an angle so they don't sit flat on the bottom of the vase and restrict water absorption. Cut them under water to prevent air bubbles from forming and blocking water uptake. Remove all foliage beneath the water line both for a cleaner look in your crystal vase and to eliminate decay and prevent bacteria buildup.

Water

• Dead blooms or drying petals ruin the finest glass or crystal vase arrangement. Prevent this by adding plant food to the water and changing the water at least every other day. Refresh the supply of Floralife, a powdered floral preservative, or Chrystal if you store your cut blooms under refrigeration for a few days, every time you change the water.

  Use sharp scissors or pruners to trim 1/4 inch from the stems when you change the water to keep the cells from clogging and preventing water from being absorbed.

Dried Flowers

• Flowers and foliage that have been dried make attractive fall and winter arrangements for glass vases. Remove all foliage and twigs below the vase line so stems are straight and clean. Use a variety of short and tall flowers, pods and leaves in the bouquet. Allow some leaves or flowers to arch below the vase, but not so many that the vase is hidden.