Question
i am doing the bouquets for a friends wedding and she wants red roses and gardenias. are you able to use gardenias in bouquets without them turning brown? also how, with the stems being from a bush? what do you think? thanks so much!!!

Answer
If you order the gardenias through a floral shop ( vs. picking them from an actual bush ) there will be hardly a stem.  No fear .... My step by step instructions can help :

1.  First, protect gardenias using a glue & water mixture - think Elmer's Glue - 6 parts to 1 part water.  Thoroughly mix and carefully dip the head of the gardenia into the solution.  Let dry for about 30 minutes or more.  

2.  Second, take two thin wires and insert them at the base of the gardenia ( through the stub ) in opposite directions.  Wrap the wires around the stem once and then bend the wires down to extend the "stem."  

3.   Wrap floral tape from the base of the stem, stretching and pulling the tape as you wrap downwards.  Trim the wires to approx. 1 1/2" to 2" and cut excess off with wire cutters.  Some wires will not be covered with tape.

4.   Attach a floral pick with one of the uncovered wires.  Align the floral pick to the side of the stem.  Wrap a thin covering of floral tape making sure to cover the piack and wire.  

Are you going to have this in a floral foam bouquet holder?  I suggest that you do.  If she wants a handtied bouquet, you can create the illusion of one by filling the top of the foamed bouquet with roses and gardenias and cutting some rose stems to the length that she wishes.  Place the cut rose stems around the bouquet holder. Wrap a rubber band towards the top and then one towards the bottom of the bouquet handle/rose stems.  Cover bands with decorative ribbon.  It looks handtied!  Email me direct if there are any questions that you need help with ... It will reach me faster.  [email protected]   Thanks!