TSFA Floral Vocab

Filler

Material has an airy look to create the finishing touch

Dry pack

Storage or shipment of flowers out of water

Processing

Recutting stems and providing treatment after distribution process

Mechanics

Supplies and methods and materials that designers use

Retail florist

Sells goods and services

Vase life

Length of useful life of flowers after being received from retailer

Photosynthesis

Process of converting nutrients, water, carbon dioxide,and sunlight into food

Light intensity

Level of light received on the surface of the plants

Corsages

Number 3 ribbon, 24-28 gauge wire, construct as light as possible

Bent neck flowers

Caused by inability of water to enter the stem

Customer education

Florists educate customer to help then enjoy their flowers the most

Processing flowers

Growers, wholesalers, and retail florists must process their flowers

Floral preservative

Mixture of ingredients that when added to water extends vase life

Hydrating solution

Citric acid solution that helps flowers absorb water faster

Respiration

Cell process in which stored food reserves are converted into food

Transpiration

Plants losing water through their stomata

Line flowers

Primary flowers used to establish skeleton outline of arrangement

Form flowers

Used to create focal point with unusual and distinctive shapes

Mass flowers

Usually single stemmed with large rounded heads, used to fill in

Focal point

Part of design that draws the most attention

Primary colors

Red, yellow, blue

Scale

Relationship between competed arrangement and it’s location

Secondary colors

Two primaries combined in equal amounts

Proportion

Relationship between flowers, foliage, and container

Skeleton flowers

Primary or line flowers used to establish outline of arrangement

Balance

Impression of the design being stable and self-supported

Conditioning

Process where cut flowers/foliages are tested to extend freshness

Piercing method

Corsage wiring technique where wire is stuck in calyx and bent downward

Hook method

Wiring technique where wire is inserted through flower and creates a small hook before being pulled back

Hairpin method

Corsage wiring technique where the wire is shaped like a hairpin

Intermediate colors

Combination of equal primaries and adjacent secondaries

Filler flowers

Flower used to complete a design

Wedding flowers

Includes bride and bridesmaids bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres

Foliages

Purpose is to hide mechanics

Line element

The visual path the eye follows as it proceeds through an arrangement

Form

Geometric shape or line design that forms the outline of the arrangement

Color

Made up of twelve major colors

Bacterial growth

Prevented by removing all foliage from stem below water level

Wire

28 gauge is finer than 16; 20 and 22 gauge is best for roses, carnations, and mums

Intensity

BRIGHTNESS or darkness of hue

Tone

Measure of color intensity when GREY is added to hue

Shade

Hue darkened by adding BLACK

Value

LIGHTNESS or darkness of hue

Tint

Hue lightened by adding WHITE

Recutting stems

Re cut stems to prevent blockage, cut at a slant

Refrigeration of fresh product

Combination of low temps and high humidity helps slow respiration; 38-40 degrees is ideal