Underwater arrangements

Aw, I am sorry! Too bad more people were not there! Your arrang. is lovely!

How do you guys get yours to last? Mine start smelling within abt 24 hrs. (not that you can smell from afar but up close to the top of vase).

Since I had so many left from the sale, I did an experiment. I found a recipe for homemade floral preservative (1 tsp. sugar, 2 tsp. lemon or lime juice, 1 tsp bleach to 1 quart warm water) and when I changed the water that night I used the preservative solution in some vases and just plain water in others.

Well, the ones with the homemade preservative were ruined the next morning! 2 of the 3 that were in plain, clean water were ok but one was yucky looking and smelly and I had to pick out all the yucky stuff and rework the arrangement with new stuff.

Today is day 3 and I have only 1 left that still looks nice - doesn't smell so nice tho.

I think that I will not try to sell them again unti I can get them to last 3 full days at the very least.

Did you use Distilled water? They don't last that long, but it depends on the flowers/greenery. Then I use thick orchid flowers, they last really well! THIN... not so long. Maybe you can figure out the right water and flower combo.

I just think they are so pretty and you can add neat things like glass, rock, castles from fish tanks, etc.

No! Never even thought of distilled water. Is that necessary?

I do use a lot of hydrangea (thin petals!) and they are the first to go. Maybe they just aren't suited to underwater arrangements :-(

That would put a real crimp in my plans as I don't have enough of anything else and the hydrangea is just so easy! I aspire to the type of arrangement of your first picture in this thread, sallysblooms, but I'm not there yet.

Well, I'll try the distilled water and see if that helps.

Thanks!

In my African Violet club we use it for a show. If your water has salts and chlorine, it can break down the flower and discolor a bit.

This message was edited Jun 10, 2008 7:25 AM

Firstyard, down there in Georgia do you use a dehumidifier? I use the water from ours for my ironing, perhaps that would do better than your tap or well? Also, be sure you change the water every day, don't let them sit more than 24 hours.

Hi Sally, hope you are recovering well from your surgery. Lovely you recieved lots of flowers. Get well soon! any news on the frogs?!!
I will try to make another underwater one soon!

Hi Firstyard, sorry to hear about the sale, maybe next time it will be busier.
I use tap water and change it everyday with the underwater arrangements and annoy everyone else in the house by keeping them in the fridge at night. They last a long time when kept cold!

Ha, no frogs have been found yet! I am still not doing so fabulous. I just went outside for the first time to water. It is hot and that was enough for one day! I am just sitting here, waiting to be able to be active again! That will be WEEEEEKS!

I did just order a new lighted stand for my violets... I can spend money really easily from my big leather chair!

haighr: No dehumidifier (I think the central air does that pretty well.) But I have distilled water on hand for my CPAP machine, so I tried it.
What I beleive I have discovered so far is that:

a) Some flowers, like calla lilies and my little pink flower carpet roses) do well in either. The rose petals become translucent after about the first day and they are gorgeous! They almost glow.

b)gardenias that are touching the glass become discolored in either; same with the white petals (the immature ones) of colored hydrangeas and very pale colors.

c) it seems that gardenias *not* touching the glass stay whiter in distilled (or even half distilled and half tap)

d) Oddly enough, the geranium (pelargonium) blooms are holding up better than I expected in either distilled or half and half.

None of this was very scientifically done and I still need to test the thicker colored hydrangeas but thought it might help someone..

terriculture: great idea! mine will be in the fridge tonight!

Oh sally, sorry you are not feeling too good. It's very frustating not being able to do the things you want to. I know how you feel.
A few years ago I had knee surgery and couldn't walk for six months... I nearly went crazy, some say I did, LoL!!
You will just have to chillax, take it easy, and delegate all those jobs!!!!! While your body is busy healing.
Get well soon! It's a good time to plan your future arrangements though. Sounds like fun ordering stuff from your chair.

Thanks for the results of your experiments firstyard. We try anything to keep our flowers for longer don't we?!!

Hello David Paul, nice to meet you. I thought the same thing about the frogs when these fine folks mentioned them, had to go google them and now I know what they are and use them all the time.
Sally, don't hurt your arm now with all that online shopping from the easy chair!!! Hope you feel better soon and the temps get a bit more enjoyable for you to wander outside.
Firstyard, sounds like you have done quite a study on this, thanks for all the information you have gathered. Will be a great reference.
Um, will have to try some of my dahlias under water when they start blooming. Perhaps I will try a bowl of red valerian since it isn't holding up well in the usual arrangements, wonder how it might do underwater?

I am feeling good enough to look for my frogs today, ha. They HAVE to be in my craft closet.

I have been taking photos of my african violets again. I just have to go slowly and not overdo. Hope I can get some underwater pics soon.


I learned about underwater arrangments in my African Violet club. Part of the show each spring is arrangments of all kinds. One part is underwater arrangments. They are magical!

So Sally, what did you find to make the best underwater arrangements from your club?

We use Violets of course since it is an African Violet club. Also, anything else you want, as long as you add violets. I just made this. The blooms are from a Pink Summet violet. I am not up for anything very complicated yet, but simple is good too. In back is a Coleus leaf. I love Coleus.

Simply beautiful Sally, now are they weighted with the stones or what? I need to go home and find my clear vase with a lid?????? Now where can it be?

They are little tiny stones, yes. There is a little frog holding the flowers down, stones on top.

I found my tiny frogs! They were right on the edge of a shelf. Gee, how did I miss them!

So glad you found your frogs, very nice job on this one. Remembered my one little clear covered dish has some fragile seashells I have collected from different spots around the planet and still thinking where my other one got to?

Love it Sally! The dark coleus is such a good contrast. Nice to see you back in action!
Good to hear you found your frogs.

Candee, don't think I've tried red valarian underwater.. try it!! it all adds to our learning finding out what works well or not.!! I tried an underwater one with those red lilies I had, it looked awful, the water went brown almost immediately.

Hi David Paul, Welcome!

A tree!

a closer look.......

different background....

How pretty Terriculture! I can't get enough of all this beautiful imagination!

Very cool Terri. You just reminded me I need to find more containers!

Thanks Sally, hope you are feeling better and are recovering well? Bought anything from your chair this week?LOL!

Thanks Candee, I got that one at a stall for 50p! it's true what they say, one persons rubbish is anothers treasure!!

Ha, Terri! I am getting better. Had my two week post op appt. Wed. and today Hubby and I went to Barnes and Noble and out to eat for lunch. Felt great to be out of the house. Got all dressed and it was nice. I am TIRED now. Back in my chair, BUT Hubby is going to put my new violet lighted shelves together and it really takes two people.

Last time I got on the floor to help and all but this time, I will just stand and hold while he does all the floor stuff.

I don't think I have spent more money from my chair, but we spent plenty at Barnes and Noble! Hey, books are good! :)

Hi Sally, good to hear you are getting out and about. Good luck with the shelves!
l love going to bookshops too!

Looking forward to seeing more underwater creations all!

Morning Sally, you must have been thrilled to get out to the book store for a bit, tiring as it was. Sounds like you are going to have even more violets with all those lights and shelves, you will have to post when you get a chance so we can see.

WELLLLLL, I hope I don't get too many new violets! The main reason for the new lighted shelves was to give my plants elbow room, they are getting SO BIG! One is 17" wide.

I am trying to be VERY picky now. I have some lovely ones and I should just enjoy them. HA, easy to say...

I overdid it yesterday with the violets, filling the reservoirs etc. Didn't feel good last night. I am doing less today, SO boring.

I want to make an underwater arrang. with orchid flowers, but maybe tomorrow.

I bet an orchid underwater would be stunning, hope you are feeling good enough to make one in a few days. Right now, just take care of yourself and DON't overdo it or you will take twice as long to recover.
You have a violet that is 17" wide, just can't imagine, bet it is gorgeous. Don't be too bored, sit with one of those Barnes n Noble books you just got!

hi all
here is a picture of the wild flower i pick while we were walking back to the house after feeding the rabbit
it been raing this moring we got enought 1"
it shipping day today
it seem it alway bad on our monday that we ship
well i had 3 day off
now i will feel like going back to work
hope every one have a good day
elle

Very pretty Elle, that looks like some sort of cocktail glass? Clever idea for an arrangement and lovely mix of wildflowers.

yes it is
with stone with the flower
elle

Very nice, I didn't know what that was, neat idea. I'll have to remember to use stones once in a while.

Can't wait to see your underwater orchids Sally! Hope you a feeling better today.

Lovely colourful flowers elle, thanks.

underwater rose petals. It's a lantern!

This message was edited Jun 25, 2008 2:16 AM

AW, that is so pretty!!

It is glistening, just like your personality !!!

You are funny! I'm still waiting to see your underwater arrangements Candee!!!!!!!!

Thanks Sally.How are you today?