Principles and Elements of Floral Design
TEKS C (6) (b) Identify tools, chemicals,
and equipment used in floral design
• When instructed to start, write on a piece
of paper as many floral design tools or
supplies you can think of in 30 seconds.
• Identify common floral design tools and
supplies.
• Differentiate between types of cutting
tools.
• Investigate anchoring materials.
• Recognize supplies needed for corsages,
bouquets, and boutonnieres.
• Floral design tools make floral work more efficient.
• Knowledge of the tools and their use for floral
design is necessary for those conducting floral
work.
www.hgtv.com
• Floral knives are used for many floral design
tasks.
• The primary use is for cutting stems.
• To be effective, a floral knife must be kept
sharp.
• The cutting method:
• Hold stem with one hand (non-dominant)
• Hold the knife at an angle the other
(dominant) hand to the stem.
• The cut is made as the stem is pulled away.
www.knifecenter.com
• Two kinds of shears: florist shears and pruning
shears.
• Shears are used to cut woody stems.
• Shears should be used over scissors, because
shears cut through plant material without pinching
the stem.
• Florist shears can be used to cut florist wire, but
pruning shears can NOT.
Florist shears
Pruning shears
www.gardenproducts.com/au
• Scissors are very useful in the design area.
• Two kinds of scissors: Ribbon & Utility
• Ribbon scissors have ling, sharp blades designed
for cutting ribbon, netting, or fabric.
• Utility scissors are used to cut paper, leaves, and
other materials.
• Scissors should NOT be used for cutting stems or
florist wire.
http://tuscolaagriculture.weebly.com/uploads/8/3
/8/9/8389114/foral_design_tools.pdf
• Floral foam provides support
and stability for the stems.
• It crushes easily and does not
return to foam—Handle and
place stems carefully!
• Two kinds of floral foam: wet
and dry foam.
• Wet foam (Oasis) holds water
and is used for fresh cut flower
arrangements.
• Dry foam is used for dry
arrangements.
www.floraldesgininstitute.com
• Anchor tape is used to secure floral foam to the
container.
• Comes in widths of ¼ and ½ inch and in green,
white, or clear.
• Anchor tape is also called waterproof tape.
www.oceansfloral.co.nz
• An anchor pin is a plastic four-pronged design
mechanic that is secured to the bottom of a
container with floral clay or glue.
• An anchor pin is particularly useful with a low
container.
www.floraldesigninstitute.com
• Pan-melt glue is an
adhesive that can be used
to secure floral foam to a
container.
• Dry foam is dipped into the
pan-melt glue and quickly
placed in the plastic
container or liner.
• Pieces of pan-melt glue are
heated to a temperature
of 275ºF in a skillet.
www.floraldesigninstitute.com
• Also known as a frog or pin holder
• A needlepoint holder consists of a heavy metal
base with many sharp, closely spaced upright pins
or needles.
• Provides support for flowers, instead of using floral
foam.
• Needlepoint holders are used for designs with a
few flowers and with line designs.
www.flowerbrained.com
• A greening pin is a two-pronged metal pin with an
“S” or flat top.
• It is used to secure moss or other foliage.
www.floraldesigninstitute.com
• A water tube is a
plastic tube with a
rubber top that has a
small opening to hold a
floral stem.
• The tube holds water
and is used for boxed
flowers that may be out
of water for a while.
www.flowerduet.com
• A narrow piece of wood with a wire attached at
the top.
• Used with dry or silk flowers to give stems added
length or strength.
• Wood picks are available in various lengths.
www.gajewholesalefloral.com
• Florists wire is sold in 18inch lengths and is
available in different
gauges, or thicknesses.
• A smaller gauge
means a thicker wire.
• Typical uses:
• #26- bows
• #24- mediumweight flowers
• #22- heavier flowers
www.koch.com.au
• Floral tape is paper coated
with paraffin or wax.
• It is available in ½- and 1-inch
widths.
• Half inch floral tape is used to
cover wire and stems.
• One inch floral tape is used for
bouquets and wreaths.
• When it is stretched and pulled
tightly around the work, it sticks
to itself.
www.floralcompanyonline.com
• May be satin, cotton, silk, paper, or burlap.
• Ribbon sizes #1, #1 ½, and #3 are used for corsage
work.
• Ribbon sizes #5 and #9 are used for potted plant
or arrangements.
• Ribbon size #40 is used for large bows in funeral
sprays.
www.weddingflowersandreceptionideas.com
• A floral foam holder is a plastic cage with a
handles.
• A saturated piece of floral foam is placed inside
the cage.
www.gobizkorea.com
• Has many purposes in floral design.
• A glue gun is used to heat the glue, which is
extruded with a pull of the trigger.
www.gtfloristsupplies.co.uk
• Used to attach the floral work to clothing.
• A corsage pin is longer than a boutonniere pin.
• Both pins have rounded tops.
www.fs-imports.com
• Students will create a flip book covering each of
the tools discussed today.
• The flip book will include a title page and a page
for each tool.
• Each page needs to include the following:
• The name of the tool
• A description of the tool
• A sketch of the tool
• Be creative and neat!
• What tool is used to cut stems?
• What is the difference between dry and wet
foam?
• What is used to anchor the floral foam to the
container?
• What is unique about floral wire gauges?
• What happens when floral tape is stretched?
• Identified common floral design tools and
supplies.
• Differentiated between types of cutting
tools.
• Investigated anchoring materials.
• Recognized supplies needed for corsages,
bouquets, and boutonnieres.