Silk Flower Buying Guide

Silk Flower Buying Guide 

By Dana Burnett 

Silk florals can be an economical alternative to fresh flowers for weddings and home decor. They are gaining in popularity due to the variety of colors and textures available. While this is also true of fresh flowers, few can afford to replace an arrangement every week.
Silk flowers are available in many varieties to suit your needs and creative comfort level. Below are listed the most common forms in which artificial flowers can be purchased. Remember to take into consideration how you will be using the flowers to help you select the best form.
Types of Silk Flowers
BUSH: This is the most popular form of silk flowers. It is a group of flowers or greenery, either of the same variety of mixed, on individual stems that are joined at the bottom.
STEM: This is a single stem with a single bloom or a cluster of flowers (sometimes referred to as a spray) at the top.
PREMADE ARRANGEMENTS: A silk floral arrangement that has already been designed and completed. This includes basket arrangements, vase arrangements, wreaths, and swags.
Dollars and Sense
The economical advantages of silk florals may be obvious, but there are other consideration to get the most bloom for your buck. Depending upon your needs, consider these options before you buy. Always keep in mind your creative comfort level and what the flowers will be used for while considering your purchase.
PREMADE ARRANGEMENTS: A better choice for those inexperienced with silk florals. A floral designer can often create a design for far less than you can design one yourself. When comparing the options, remember to add in the cost of the vase, floral foam, floral tape, floral wire, glue guns, glue, and then the cost of the flowers themselves.
SILK BUSHES: Buying your silks in bush form is a very economical choice for those creating larger arrangements or those creating numerous arrangements. A great choice for weddings or parties. Keep in mind the flowers on silk bushes are usually smaller than those on individual stems. Designer Tip: Use silk bushes as your filler flowers around larger single stem silk flowers. It can cut the cost of an arrangement in half.
STEMS: The only way to go if you are wanting a contemporary single flower type arrangements. Why pay the money for extra flowers that you don't plan to use. The flowers on single stems tend to be larger and the stems are longer than the individual stems on silk bushes.
WEDDINGS: Cut down on the cost of the big event by using silks wherever possible. Match the colors of the wedding without spending more by buying white or cream flowers and purchasing silk floral paint from a craft store that comes in a variety of colors and shades. For your big day, any dollar saved gives you more to spend on the other things that will help make your dream wedding a reality.
Caring for Your Silks
One of the biggest complaints about silk flowers is their ability to gather dust. One solution is to purchase silk plant cleaner that you spray on the arrangement to wash away the dust. Another solution is to spray the silks with a fabric freshener that most people already have in their homes. A even less expensive alternative comes right out of your tap. Fill a spray bottle with water and spray the arrangement to wash away any dust. Very simple and inexpensive solutions.

Silk flowers have come a long way in recent years. Now it is sometimes impossible to tell a fresh flower from silk without touching or smelling it. Save yourself some money and don't dismiss silks without first looking at their economical value and the realism now available.