Workbench
Basics
Potted
pizzazz
Try these three easy options for
dressing up chrysanthemum plants.
Stores everywhere will be rolling out potted chrysanthemums by
the dozens as the official start to fall approaches. How can
your department make its mum offerings the most appealing to
consumers? Much of the answer lies in the packaging. Here are
three quick ways to make your mums ready for grab-and-go
gift-giving or display and in the process boost their value and
potential selling prices.
garland
garnish
A woody Smilax wreath makes a simple accent when draped over
a clay pot to enhance these sunny yellow chrysanthemums. A
bit of moss hides the soil inside the pot and helps the
plant retain moisture. The clean, unembellished container
and enhancement allow the flowers to shine.
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HOW TO: Place the chrysanthemums into a clay pot, and
cover the soil’s surface with moss. Hook a Smilax wreath
around the pot, resting on its back edge. Insert wired
wooden picks through the wreath and into the dirt, wiring
around the wreath in order to keep it secure. |
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MATERIALS: Smilax
wreath from Knud Nielsen; chrysanthemums, moss, clay pot and
wired wooden picks from favorite suppliers.
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wrapped
delight
Two types of wraps are used in this arrangement to add
volume and drama to the potted chrysanthemums. A sheet of
gold wrap already cut into a square makes the assembly a
cinch, and dividing the mesh sheets into halves that are
formed into fans adds volume and size to the plant to give
the appearance of a double-wrapped presentation.
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HOW TO: Place a strip of double-sided tape around the
pot rim. Center the pot on a square sheet of wrapping, and
gather the wrapping around the pot. Tie with raffia. Cut
square sheets of mesh wrap in half. Fan out the edge of each
half sheet and secure the ends to wired wooden picks. Pick
the fans into
the pot. |
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MATERIALS: Precut sheet and precut Mezzo Mesh Square
from Temkin International; chrysanthemums, raffia, wired
wooden picks and double-sided tape from favorite suppliers.
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leafy
blooms
A natural fall pairing for the sunny chrysanthemum is the
oak leaf, in its varied auburn hues of fall. Here leaves on
their natural stems are massed around the edges for a lush
look. A cellophane-encased kraft paper covering for the pot
is assembled to give crisp lines and longevity, but it is
unobtrusive so the flowers and the leaves are the stars.
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HOW TO: Layer a square of kraft paper between two
sheets of clear cellophane, to protect the paper and keep it
dry. Fold the wraps around the pot, creating crisp pleats.
Staple the edges of the pleats, including the plastic pot
rim, to keep them in place. Stuff the perimeter of the
chrysanthemum pot with stems of preserved oak leaves. |
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MATERIALS: Preserved oak leaves from Knud Nielsen;
clear cellophane from Highland Supply Corporation;
chrysanthemums and kraft paper from favorite suppliers.
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enjoy the rest of this issue, please go to the
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Retailing today!!!
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