10 Tips for Using Baby's Breath in Flower Arrangements

 

 
Image: Design With Christine

 Love/Hate Relationship with Baby Breath

 Florists either love or hate baby's breath.  Those who love it see it as a way to use less flowers in a flower arrangement. Florists who hate baby's breath see it as an overused filler flower that detracts rather than enhances a floral arrangement.

When we first opened Fly Me To The Moon, I refused to even have baby's breath in the shop.  But due to popular demand, we had to start carrying it. I keep it in the back where it can't be seen and only bring it out when customers ask for it.

 

 

Image: Wreath Palace

Gypsophila or "gyp," as it's referred to in the industry, does have a place in floral design. The key is to put it in only the right places.  Follow the baby's breath dos and don'ts listed below and you'll be creating more professional-looking flower arrangements in no time:

 
Image: The Knot

10 Baby's Breath Dos and Dont's  

Don't use a truckload of baby's breath with a few flowers thinking it will make your arrangement look like you spent more money on it. Trust me.  It won't.

Do buy one, three or five flowers (odd numbers always look best) beautiful flowers and ask for a little foliage to go with them.

Don't use an entire stem of baby's breath. It's too big and will overpower the flower arrangement.

Do separate the baby's breath by cutting apart the longer branches.  Tuck these smaller branches into large gaps between the flowers. This will give the arrangement a more balanced and elegant look.

Don't just grab the baby's breath and stick it into a floral arrangement or bouquet.

Do make sure the baby's breath is fresh and the flowers are white. Old baby's breath  turns brown and may have broken flowers. This makes the entire arrangement look old.

Don't insist on putting baby's breath into every floral arrangement. It will do more harm than good. Because it is used so often n cheap floral arrangements, it can make a perfectly beautiful bouquet from a florist look like one you picked up at the corner store.

Do add it to arrangements that are more traditional or romantic in style. Use it when you want that "just picked from the garden" look. Use baby's breath with light-colored roses, carnations, lisianthus and alstroemeria.

Don't resist the urge to think outside of the baby's breath box. A flower arrangement of just small vases of baby's breath for a baby shower is a sweet idea.

Do try using other fillers such as solidago, caspia, statice, wax flower or hypericum berries.

 

 

 

Comments

[Kathy Arrangement]

thanks for teaching me how to use a new type of flower in an flower arrangement.

[Mimi]

You are so welcome Kathy. Thanks so much for stopping by!

[Peg Stood]

Just cut flowers seem to have unpleasant odor. Do I put them in bleach solution or just live with it?

[Mimi]

I don't have a garden so I have not experienced that. I did a little research online and it seems you're not the only one that feels that way. As a florist, I experience foul smells from cut flowers as they begin to decay. Removing all foliage that will be under water is crucial. Giving flowers a fresh cut and washing the vase and replacing the water will help. Some varieties of flowers such as pom pom mums have stems that decay quickly. The water for this flower must be changed more often. Hope this helps.

[Karen]

I was told that baby's breath smells bad even if it is fresh and shouldn't be used in wedding bouquets or table decorations.

[Mimi]

Karen, I truly appreciate your comment. Baby's breath does have a slight smell, to which I'm sensitive, but many are not. When fresh, it does have a delicate, heavenly look which you probably can't get from other flowers.