Let's Look At - Florist Wire . . .

There are many different roles for wire in a floral setting.

Wire aids flower blooms in many different functions! Strong Wire adds strength to a floral stem. Thin wire can totally recreate a bloom. Wire is a silent tool that helps the florist tremendously. 

The samples of wire above are straight pieces of wire and paddle wire. Length of wire are most popular are 12” and 18”. Paddle wire is usually a thinner wire that is wrapped on a strip of heavy cardboard.

In my floral designing, I use three gauges of wire. For strong support to fortify stems, I use #18. This is one of the heaviest gauges that the florist utilizes. It is great to support carnation blooms in funeral work. The gauge I use most often is #22. This gauge is flexible. It can used in many situations. It can support the stems, create shapes for designs, and it is great to hold together a bow! The thinnest gauge I use is #26. This gauge is used to wire flowers for corsages, boutonnieres and wedding bouquets. The thinness of the wire allows control to hold together the petals, but it takes skill and practice not to cut the petals. It is important to realize that this gauge of wire can cut your fingers like a razor if you pull it through your fingers. 

My major tools for cutting wire are wire cutters and shears. I use wire cutters for gauges #18 and #22. When using #26 gauge, shears are better for me to cut the wire. The thinness of the wire does not always make a clean cut using wire cutters.  It is important that the cuts of the wire be neat, so as not to injure anybody.