Your Complete Guide to Christmas Floristry

What’s a Christmas table without a beautiful floral centrepiece?

Whether you’re looking to add a festive touch to your home or office or you’re in charge of decorating for a holiday party, we’ve got you covered with our comprehensive guide to holiday floristry.

Read on for everything you need to know about choosing, arranging, and caring for Christmas flowers. Plus bonus gift tips at the end of the article!

Choosing Your Flowers

When it comes to picking out flowers for your Christmas arrangements, you’ve got plenty of options. Consider the following factors to help you choose the best blooms for your needs:

Overall look

Do you want something traditional and classic, or something unique and more modern? Christmas flower decoration is typically either red or white, but there are other options out there if you want to mix things up.

The event

What kind of party are you hosting? Is it formal? Then go with something low-key like baby’s breath or greens. For an informal get-together or potluck dinner with friends and family, bright colours like orange poinsettias and purple dendrobium orchids may be better suited.

Colour scheme

What colours will best complement your other Christmas decorations? If you’ve got a lot of red, then maybe try to find a flower that has some other colour in it. Or if you’re going for more of a neutral approach with white and silver, then go bold with hot pinks and purples.

Type of arrangement

Do you just want one large bouquet or an assortment of smaller Christmas flower arrangements? Will you be putting the flowers in a small vase on your kitchen table or a large centrepiece on your dining-room table?

Budget

Put some thought into how much money will go toward your decorations and how much will be saved for other expenses for the holidays. You may be able to find Christmas decorations at a good price in December, but if you wait until after the holidays have passed and everything has been returned from storage, you won’t have much luck.

Type of container

Will your arrangement be in a vase, a basket, or something else? If you’re using a vase, make sure it has enough room for the flowers. You don’t want to see stems or leaves sticking out of your container.

Time and effort

Some flowers require more care than others. Poinsettias, for example, are very popular during the holidays but need to be watered every day. So if you’re not willing to be that dedicated, you’re better off going with something simpler. Now, if you’re the set-and-forget type whose idea of floristry is hanging up DIY Christmas wreaths, there are Christmas floristry courses where you can learn how to [make beautiful long and low table centres]Christmas Table Arrangement) with either dried flowers or fresh flowers or a combination of the two.

Popular Christmas Flowers

When you think of tree decorations, flowers may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But why not? It’s a creative idea because flowers are particularly popular during the season. If you’re looking for some inspiration, consider using one or more of the following blooms in your arrangements:

• Poinsettias: These traditional Christmas flowers come in a variety of colours, including red, white, pink, and even purple.
• Holly: Holly is a classic holiday plant. It comes in a variety of colours, including red and green, and also quite easy to care for.
• Cedar: Cedar branches add a festive, evergreen touch to any arrangement.
• Rosemary: Rosemary is another great evergreen option, and it smells wonderful, too!

• Lilies: Lilies are beautiful flowers that come in many different colours. They’re especially popular around Christmas time.
• Tulips: Tulips are a classic spring flower, but they’re also popular during the Christmas season.
• Daisies: Daisies are cheerful flowers that add a touch of happiness to any arrangement.
• Baby’s Breath: Baby’s breath is a lovely filler flower that can be used to add texture and volume to any arrangement.

Arranging Your Flowers

• Start with a clean container. Make sure your vase, basket, or other container is clean and free of any dirt or debris.
• Fill your container with fresh water. This will help keep your flowers fresh for longer.
• Trim your flower stems. Make sure your flowers are the right height and size. Use a sharp knife or scissors to trim off any excess stem length.
• Arrange your flowers. Start with the tallest stems, placing them in the centre of your arrangement. Work your way out from there and add shorter stems as you go.
• Fill in any empty spaces. Once your arrangement is complete, fill in any empty spaces with filler flowers or greenery.

Holiday Styling for Your Floral Arrangement

Make Christmas floristry decorations part of your entire holiday theme. Here are a few simple things you can do to give your arrangement a festive, holiday-inspired look:

• Wrap the base of your container with burlap, ribbon, or fabric. Add a bow to the top and some pieces of greenery.
• Speaking of greenery, you can add a few sprigs of evergreen branches, like pine, spruce, or holly to fill in empty spaces. Tuck in a few pinecones, ornaments, or other holiday decorations.
• Use holiday-themed vases or containers and make them part of the decoration by adding seasonal greenery or flowers around it.
• Different sized vases, bowls and containers will help create a unique look. Try using a small glass bowl or a tall cylinder vase for contrast.
• Add some holiday tapers or votives to the base of your vase. These are especially great for larger arrangements that need support.
• Finish it off with a bow, and you’re done!

Floral Care and Maintenance

Once your arrangement is complete, it’s important to know how to make Christmas flowers last as long as possible. Here are some notes on how to keep your flowers looking fresh:

• Check the water level daily. Top off the water as needed to keep the stems submerged.
• Trim the stems regularly. This will help your flowers absorb more water and stay fresh.
• Keep your arrangement out of direct sunlight. Too much sun can cause your flowers to wilt.
• Avoid placing your arrangement near heat sources. This includes fireplaces, heaters, and televisions.
• Remove any dead or dying flowers. This will help prolong the life of the rest of your arrangement.

Bonus Tip: Gift Your Holiday Floral Arrangement!

If you’re looking for a unique and thoughtful holiday gift, why not give beautiful Christmas flower arrangements?

Remember these tips when gifting a floral ornament:

• Choose a style that fits the recipient’s taste. If you’re not sure what type of flowers the recipient likes, a mixed bouquet is always a safe bet.
• Stay away from flowers that are known to cause allergies. You can replace these possible allergens with safe alternatives, like greenery, branches, or berries.
• Add a personal touch. Slip in a handwritten note or card with care instructions.
• Select a container that can be used year after year. An attractive vase or basket can be reused as a home decor piece after the flowers have wilted.
• Include a gift card. This will give the recipient the option to buy a vase or other supplies they may need.

Whether you’re looking to add a festive touch to your own home or thinking of how to decorate your Christmas tree for a holiday party, flowers are the way to go. We hope this guide has given you all the information you need to create beautiful, professional-looking arrangements.

If you want to learn how to make Christmas flower arrangements, check out our wide collection of floristry classes. Merry Christmas and happy flower arranging!