Cover Florist Nina Garcia of Majorelle Floral Design
Florist Nina Garcia of Majorelle Floral Design
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Flowers add life and colour to any home. But can you keep them fresh longer? Majorelle floral design’s Nina Garcia tells us how
Fragrant and vibrant, floral arrangements breathe life into any space. The only downside of keeping flowers at home is its short-lived beauty. Nina Garcia, the mind behind Majorelle floral design, tells us how we should take care of delicate plants and shares tips to prolong their lifespan. “My passion for flowers was influenced by my mother, and growing up, it was a part of our everyday life. Our home was always surrounded by plants and fresh flowers. As an adult with a home of my own, the idea of bringing nature indoors appealed to me and having flowers in strategic corners on a regular basis, completed my home,” she says. “I never dreamed I would launch a career in floral arrangement. But as the adage goes, ‘Choose a job that you love and you shall never work a day in your life’!” she adds.
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Above Florist Nina Garcia of Majorelle Floral Design tells us how to keep fresh flowers longer (Photo: Sarah Dorweiler/Pexels)
Florist Nina Garcia of Majorelle Floral Design tells us how to keep fresh flowers longer (Photo: Sarah Dorweiler/Pexels)
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What specific energy do fresh flowers attract? Do you think every home is livelier with fresh flowers?
Nina Garcia (NG): To me, the vibe conveyed by fresh flowers is one of beauty and generosity. Flowers immediately promote the aesthetic while serving as a sensory gift to its beholder. A home with fresh flowers instantly imbues life, simply because a component of nature is brought inside a physical structure, giving harmony and balance within a shelter. Taking a part of the outside environment into the inside of a home, softens the inanimate objects and warms the space with an elemental aspect amidst bricks and mortar, furniture and appliances.
More importantly, fresh flowers have a sensory effect on the home dweller. Flowers, like human beings, evoke a myriad of moods: elegant, chic, ethnic, exotic, serene, or sophisticated. They can be used to draw from the colour palette of interiors, or from items in a room like a painting, or perhaps complement a collection of objects on a coffee table or bookshelf. In a way, they create a backdrop for a life well lived through everyday beauty, simple elegance and flair, can be soothing, offering a charming respite from the stressors of the world.
More from Tatler: Say It With Flowers: Majorelle’s Nina Garcia on Her Love for Floristry
How do you keep flowers fresh? Do different types of flowers require different types of care?
NG: It is essential that you select a vase that holds enough water for the quantity of stems you intend to fill it with. One must cut the flowers and prune the foliage before arranging them. Each stem is cut while excess and wilted leaves are trimmed below the water line, and removed along with grit. Stems will thirst for water in the first 24 hours, so water levels must be regularly topped. Direct light should be avoided. This is a prerequisite for basic flower care.
Placement of each individual flower stem is a careful and thoughtful process. Over time, one will learn how much to trim specific blooms: those that stand tall and those that look best tightly bundled and cosily centred. Eventually, you will discover flower behaviour, like how tulips will stubbornly face the direction they please.
Single flower arrangements require keen attention and creativity to achieve a splendid outcome with a minimum of effort. Practice will be the gateway to skill and competency. In time, the process will unfold seamlessly, instinctively, naturally. Soon, results will be effortless and the most meticulous of tasks is prepared with ease. The artistic and creative energy stored within the arranger will ostensibly emerge as one begins to master the craft with grace and efficiency. One must liberate imagination and be unafraid to venture beyond comfort zones. Follow intuition, allow for uninhibited energy to roam as you create, and always improvise repeatedly.
Related: 7 hard-to-kill flowering plants to bring colour to your garden
How many days do fresh flowers last with proper care?
NG: Cut flower orchids like Cymbidiums or Vandas last around two weeks, while long-stemmed Ecuadorian Roses last more than a week. Short Stemmed Ecuadorian Roses last about three to five days, Dutch Chrysanthemums last for two weeks and common blooms last for three to five days. Common flowers that people love to put in their homes are Orchids, tropical blooms, carnations, roses, Chrysanthemums, and Hydrangeas, mainly because of their exquisite and vibrant appearance combined with longevity.
Above Ecuadorian Roses (Photo: Lisa Fotios/Pexels)
Ecuadorian Roses (Photo: Lisa Fotios/Pexels)
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Are vases essential in keeping flowers fresh for days?
NG: Absolutely. Vases are key in giving cut flowers a home they can thrive, given their ephemeral nature. The room or space as much as the vessel that flowers rest in is crucial to their optimum appearance. Again, like people, they must sit comfortably in their surroundings beginning with their home, which is the vase. A container can enhance or cramp an arrangement. It can highlight the peculiar qualities of an exotic bloom or it can compete with the overall arrangement.
Compatibility of space, the specific blooms used and the type of vase that holds them are factors that add to a well-appointed look. You can say that there will be no two arrangements exactly alike on any given day so this makes the opportunity to beautify quite challenging and the final look, most intriguing.
See also: 7 Flower Arrangement Inspirations For Your Home Centrepiece
What special step-by-step tips do you have for people who love to horde fresh flowers at home?
NG: People who want to keep their flowers fresh longer must resist overhandling the stems to avoid damage, they must also refrain from putting the flowers anywhere near direct sunlight. It is also important to note that flowers are not sardines! Avoid packing them too tightly especially when storing them before arranging them. Flower health and comfort require an environment that does not “stress” them, giving them room to relax and drink.
NG: Quality checks are quite important too; to do this, gently feel with your fingers for any broken or bruised parts of a stem, foliage, or petal. Flowers must always be hydrated—make sure that each stem is freshly-cut to allow a smooth drinking passage. Advantages of keeping fresh flowers at home: Keep in mind that flowers in one’s home are considered a blessing, a gift to be grateful for and a reminder to pause and enjoy its beauty and celebrate life. Flowers possess a unique magic that transforms any space into grace and light.
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NG: Flower arrangement should not be a stressful task as it becomes counter to what it represents. Overthinking and fixating on your arrangement render a flower’s purpose useless. If you are frowning when arranging your flowers, then you just extinguished the magic of flowers. Lastly, like any endeavour—be it cooking a good meal using the best ingredients or fashioning handmade goods such as a genuine leather bag from only the finest craftsmanship—using premium quality materials will inevitably produce the optimum results your flowers deserve.
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
