Birthday
HydrangeasA bouquet is a classic, but more and more people choose a flower basket instead. It is a ready-made arrangement that doesn't need a vase, and the flowers stay fresh longer. Here is why a basket beats a bouquet, which flowers suit it and how to make a flower basket yourself.
Why a basket is a great alternative to a bouquet
- No vase needed. The arrangement is ready to go straight onto a table, windowsill or floor.
- Flowers stay fresh longer. The stems sit in water-soaked floral foam, so a basket copes well with a banquet, a long journey or a picnic.
- Easy to give. A basket is easy to carry and hand over, especially with lots of flowers.
- Doubles as décor. Baskets decorate festive tables, wedding venues, entrances and offices.
Which flowers suit a basket
Almost any flower looks good in a basket, from field daisies to a hundred roses. For bold accents, use roses, hydrangeas, peonies, lilies or gerberas; for filling in, spray roses, chrysanthemums, alstroemerias, lisianthus and gypsophila. Another option is a basket of pot plants such as violets, primroses or mini roses — a gift that lasts much longer than cut flowers.
How to make a flower basket yourself
You will need: a wicker basket, thick plastic, floral foam, floral or ordinary tape, a knife, secateurs, flowers and greenery.
- Line the base and sides of the basket with thick plastic so water can't leak. Keep the edges below the rim — the greenery will hide them later.
- Prepare the foam: cut it to fit the basket and lay it on the surface of the water. Don't push it under — it should soak itself in 1–2 minutes, or dry pockets will remain inside.
- Place the foam in the basket so it sits 1–2 cm above the rim and tape it in a cross.
- Outline the shape with greenery: insert stems around the edge to hide the plastic and foam.
- Add the flowers: large ones first, in the centre and at the key points, then small ones in between. Cut stems at an angle with a sharp knife and insert each one only once — moving stems leaves holes in the foam.
- Decorate the handle with ribbon if you like, but don't overload the basket with décor.
How to care for a flower basket
- Top up the foam with a little water every day — it must not dry out.
- Keep the basket cool, away from radiators, sun and fruit.
- Remove faded flowers so the rest last longer.
On average, a basket with well-chosen flowers lasts 5–10 days.
A gift basket with treats
Baskets aren't only for flowers. Traditionally they were given at weddings and housewarmings as a symbol of plenty, filled with bread, grain and fruit. Today a gift basket might hold fruit, cheese, sweets, coffee and tea, honey, wine or home baking, topped with a small bouquet.
- Choose a sturdy basket with a handle, woven from willow, rattan or jute.
- Line the bottom with paper filler or a linen napkin; put heavy items at the bottom and light, fragile ones on top.
- Pick firm, unblemished fruit, and add perishable items only just before giving the basket.
- To add flowers, place them in a small water tube or a piece of wet floral foam wrapped in film.
A wedding flower basket
A small flower basket can be made for a bride, a flower girl or a honeymoon photo shoot. It is put together like any other: a liner, soaked foam, greenery around the edge, then the flowers. Roses combined with spray roses, freesias, gypsophila and alstroemerias look lovely. For a festive touch, thread pearl beads onto thin stems of bear grass and bend them in arcs over the arrangement.
FAQ
How long does a flower basket last?
About a week if the foam is watered daily, and longer with chrysanthemums and alstroemerias.
What occasions is a flower basket good for?
Birthdays, anniversaries, 8 March, weddings, as a thank-you or to decorate a celebration.
Don't want to make one yourself? Choose ready-made flower baskets or gift baskets with UFL delivery in Kyiv.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
