Floral Supplies

For the DIY Florist

Basic supplies:

• pruning shears (purchase here)

• sharp pruning shears with a point (purchase here)

• Ikebana type shears

• a floral stripper

• wire cutters or kitchen scissors

• vase (know the height and diam. of opening)

Other supplies:

• wet-pack floral foam - bricks, spheres, or rings (you soak these in water)

• dry floral foam (for silks)

• floral pins

• raffia (to tie orchids to bamboo stakes)(found here)

• a produce knife

• 18 gauge floral wire (see Prep page)

• floral putty

• mini glue gun (99 cent store)

• ribbon

• dedicated fabric scissors

• floral picks

• floral tape

• clear 1/2 inch waterproof tape (found here) to make a grid to hold flowers in place

• a stapler

• clear flat floral marbles

• grey black river rocks

Where to buy the basics and other supplies:

If you like the convenience of shopping on-line, this is a link to many of the products that are used in FloristInYou posts. These products are individually selected by FloristInYou and are just the right size and shape for the various arrangements on this site, so you don’t need to wade through endless photos trying to find the right one. They are also shipped by Amazon and many are Amazon Prime, so shipping is fast and dependable. Visit this Shop page to buy all the supplies you'll need to make your favorite arrangement.  You will find Vases, Vase Fillers, Tools, and Supplies.  Happy shopping!      http://www.floristinyou.com/-shop

In addition to the convenience offered in the above link, if you like to explore on your own, most medium sized and larger cities have a floral district that sell specialized floral supplies as well as flowers.  In Los Angeles the Floral District is in downtown Los Angeles between 7th and 8th streets and Maple and San Julian.  Some of the larger vendors are: Floral Supply Syndicate, GM, and Muscatels.  You can also get floral supplies from a craft store.  In California, Michael's is a good choice. Remember you can order many of the products used on FloristInYou with this link.  

Know the height and diameter of the vase you need for a project.  You might remember the shape but when you see 15 vases all the same shape, it's hard to figure out just what size you really need.  When seeing a whole room of them, it's easy to get sensory overload, get dizzy and pass out.  I do.  It's better to go with a list.  A difference in the vase height may mean the flowers you purchased, may not be tall enough for the vase.  A difference in the diameter of the mouth of the vase might mean you need to get twice as many flowers to fill it.

Use quality pruning shears.  You need them, period.  I also love my Ikebana type Clauss 6.25" shears.  They are great for precise work.

OK now, don't get overwhelmed.  Just select an arrangement from the main page of this site and click on the picture. The link will have a list of the specific supplies you need for that arrangement.  Get those and your basic supplies.  Scroll down here and see the video and photos of the supplies below.