How to Wire and Tape a Mum
It's easy to learn basic floral design skills! This tutorial teaches step by step instructions for wiring and taping a mum to use in a corsage or boutonniere. Perfect for DIY fall wedding flowers!
When it comes to learning how to arrange flowers there are some basic skills that are really helpful to master. Wiring and taping flowers is one skill that is important, especially for creating wearable flowers such as boutonnieres and corsages. There are some different methods of wiring different types of flowers (such as Carnations and Roses); this tutorial is going to focus solely on a Chrysanthemum or Mum.
First, Why Wire and Tape Flowers?
You may be wondering, why on earth would you cut a flower from its stem just to make an artificial one? Well, the purpose of replacing the stem with wire is to create a flexible stem that is thin and easy to bend or work with. This is really important when making boutonnieres and corsages. The wire is covered with floral tape to make the stem look as natural as possible and hide the wire.
A little about Mums...
Mums are a more tricky flower to wire and tape. Unlike the carnation or rose, these flowers have a pretty narrow stem and the calyx is much smaller and not able to be utilized for wiring. So, you have to wire them with a hook method instead. It is actually really easy to do and works great as well.
If you don't know a lot about chyrsanthemums in floral design, they are actually used a lot and not just in the fall. Mums come in a lot of different shapes and sizes from little ones to daisy mums to huge football mums. If a mum is being used for a corsage or boutonniere it will most likely be a smaller size one.
Wiring and Taping a Mum...
Materials Needed...
materials needed for wiring and taping a chrysanthemum
Step by Step Directions...
Trim mum off stem...
trim the stem off of the mum
Trim the mum below the calyx leaving only about 1/2 - 1 inch of stem.
Run wire straight up stem...
running the wire through the hollow stem
Carefully push the wire straight through the flower. The center of most mum stems is hollow so it is really easy to run the wire straight up the stem. Push the wire all of the way through until it comes through the center of the top of the flower.
pulling the wire through the top of the flower
Create hook with top of wire...
create a hook at the top of the wire
Fold the very top of the wire down to create a small hook. Now, pull the wire gently back down until the hook has caught the top of the flower and is hidden in the petals.
hook is gently pulled back into the petals of the flower
Stretch floral tape out...
stretching out floral tape
Floral tape is not like any other kind of tape. It becomes slightly sticky by being stretched out. You MUST stretch it out to use it to wrap stems so that it will stick to the stems and itself. Some people stretch it as they go, I like to stretch out what I need before I start wrapping.
beginning wrapping floral tape around stem.
A mum has a very narrow stem so getting the floral tape started can be a little tricky. Be sure to be patient and get it on tightly so that it will not fall off.
Wrap stem with floral tape...
taping the entire wire stem
Start wrapping as close to the stem as you can. Wrap smoothly and tightly, overlapping as you go. Continue wrapping all of the way down the stem.
If you want some practice taping before working with real flowers check out my tutorial for making Flower Pens! I used to do this project with my students to help them learn taping skills.
The flower is ready!
finished wired and taped mum with a curled stem
Make as many as needed to create a corsage or boutonniere or other flower project!
