Hints for Building a Durable Arrangement

Build your floral arrangement away from small children to avoid potential accidents with wire cutters and hot glue.

Hot glue the floral foam to the container.

Hot glue all the stems of your arrangement into the floral foam. That way, children are less likely to pull them out of the arrangement. As an added security (just in case they manage to pull an arrangement apart) be sure to make clean cuts when cutting the stems to size. With a clean cut, you shouldn't get any loose wires hanging out with jagged edges.

Tight, nosegay and bunch-style arrangements made with several single floral stems, such as roses, daisies, tulips, sunflowers, peony, magnolia, and ranuculus create a more durable design. Test the durability of a floral stem by pulling on the head, petals and leaves. If it comes apart readily, plan to secure weak points with hot glue (example, remove a rose head, add a dab of hot glue to wire hole, replace and let dry). Also test foliage spikes, which often are not assembled as securely as floral stems. Check all the points of attachment and reinforce with hot glue where necessary. Be sure to remove the excess glue once it is cool.