Travelling with Dahlia Blooms
by: Michael Smith on Fri, 6 Mar 2009 at: 1:01 AM Go to: Previous Article Next Article
Once the blooms have recovered from the journey, commence deep and of good colour if possible. If placing three blooms in one vase, stage in a triangle with two blooms as the base and the third above them.
This may not be possible if the blooms are very large, in which case the position should be reversed. If five or six blooms are required they should be staged in an approximate circle round a central bloom.
The first row of blooms is laid in position in the box, with the necks resting on the rolls of paper, almost touching the end of the box, and lightly pressed against each other. Cactus blooms can usually be packed more tightly than decoratives due to the naturally incurving nature of the florets.
A mixed vase of two varieties can be very effective, if well matched and of colours which suit each other, and the judge is likely to think more highly of an excellent vase of mixed varieties than an uneven vase of one.
On arrival at the show, unpack the blooms immediately and get them into water straight away. Deep containers should be used if these are available, otherwise carry or obtain extra vases to ease your task.
Examine each bloom as you take it out of the box for damage, then remove the bottom inch of the stem under water to ensure that water is taken up quickly and easily. Incidentally if the blooms have been out of water for some hours they may be very limp, and may take a couple of hours or even more to regain turgidity, so remember this if starting your journey and allow ample time for recovery. If some blooms seem unable to take up water, try inserting the blade of a knife through a joint just below the top of the water, giving a gentle twist at the same time to open the gap. This will usually be effective, particularly if the gap is kept open by inserting a thin matchstick. Certain blooms tend to softness in the stem if dry -Edna D is a notorious example of this-and a light cane should be tied to the stem of such varieties if putting into water. This will keep the stem straight until the cells become stiff with water if it can be removed, just before leaving the hall after staging.
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Dahlia can be grown in your garden and used as flower arrangement in your house.
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