Ikebana Technique

Tools
Flower Clippers, Roll of Wire,Watering can,Spray, Wire,’Frog’ heavy metal base used to hold the stems of flowers, etc...

N.B. The tools, introduced here, are only some of the basic tools for Ikebana. Depending on the Ikebana school the materials used for Ikebana will differ. Depending on the type of flowers the tools will also be different. If you go to an Ikebana store, you are sure to find the tools for Ikebana of many kinds.

How to Cut Ikebana plants
Cutting the Stem: Right Angle Cut

Place the clippers at a right angle to the stem, and then cut.
N.B. If you cut at a diagonal the section exposed to water becomes larger, and can take in a larger amount of water. But this will make the bottom of the stem become weak, and make it harder to stand on the frog..

Cutting of Branches

Cut at a diagonal of 45 degrees. Avoiding the node, open the clippers widely and place the branch in the part of the clippers near your hands. Cut it in one clean cut. With thicker branches it is ok to cut it 2 or 3 times. If you cut the branch at a diagonal it will be easier to punch it onto the ‘frog’.
The correct way to use the clippers
1. Hold the clippers wide open
2. When holding the clippers open them wide, gathering your strength cut the flower stem or branch in a clean cut.

In collaboration with collecting data for Ikebana, Sessyu Ryu. 

 http://sessyu-ryu.com/

There is a classroom where you can try for free.(except cost for flower only 1500yen)

http://sessyu-ryu.com/article.php/hs_trial

The Method of Drawing in More Water
The Method of Cutting in Water

The basic way of cutting flower is in water. When doing this please follow the directions written below.
1. Put water into a bowl or something with a wide mouth.
2. In the water cut the stem at a diagonal. The water pressure will help promote the rising of the water, make sure to cut it in as deep water as you can.

Method of Burning
Burning method can help prevent the decay of the flower or stem and result in a high level of water absorption.
Point: After burning the cut end put it into water immediately.

Method of Using Boiling Water

With softer stems and branches, it is hard to either cut or burn them. In this case you can use hot water. Depending on the method of using boiling water the water absorbency rate can be high.
Point: Immerse 2-4cm of the stem in boiling water, and then immediately put it into cold water.

Method of Splitting the Stem

If the branch is thick and the stalk is hard cut the stem crosswise with the clippers. Doing this will make the section coming into contact with the water become larger, and able it to absorb more water. However, if you cut too much the bottom of the stem/branch will become too soft to stand up. Method of Hitting the Root
If the branch is hard and has lots of fabric, to make it take in more water, you can hit the root in the way explained below.
1. Cut the branch in the water.
2. Break the bottom of the branch by hitting its root with the handle of the clippers. As for small and thin branches, you can break their roots with your teeth.
3. When fixing the branch onto the frog, cut off the broken part.

Improving Water Absorption by Using Chemicals
You can also make the stem or branch of the flower absorb more water by applying some salt or burnt aluminum sulfate with a brush, or immerse it into alcohol or vinegar for 2 or 3 minutes. This can cause chemical reaction and then improve water absorption. Which kind of chemicals you should use depends on the kind of flower you are dealing with. The following is an information chart of commonly used chemicals and flowers.

Flower	Chemicals	Methods of Application
sunflower bamboo plant	salt	Cut the flower in the water, and then apply some salt around the root. Leave it for a while before putting it into a frog or vase.
hydrangea flowers with soft branches and stem	burnt alum	Cut the flower in the water, and then apply some burnt alum around the root. Leave it for a while before putting it onto a frog or into a vase.
wisteria	alcohol	Cut the flower in the water, and then apply some whiskey or Japanese cooking sake. Applying whiskey or sake should be finished within 10 minutes. Then put it away and don’t arrange it in a frog or vase until it dries.
bamboo plant silver grass	vinegar	Cut the flower in the water and then immerse it in the vinegar. In case of grass, immerse for 2~3 seconds, and in case of bamboo plant, immerse for 2~3 minutes.
All flowers	life-sustaining chemicals	Put some water into the vase, and then add some lift-sustaining chemicals to make the flower last longer.

Adapted from：Takenaka Reiko “Anyone Can Arrange Flowers in a Beautiful and Simple Way”, Sekai Bunka Publishing Inc. February 1, 2006.

How to Fix Branches
1. Fixing Branches to a Frog
A frog is a dish-like tool used for fixing branches on. When fixing branches on a frog, you should choose a frog whose size matches the size and length of the branches. The fixing techniques depend on branches you are going to use and shall be explained accordingly in the following chart.

Fixing Branches to the Frog

Kinds of Branches	Fixing Techniques
Grass Class	Insert the branch straight and deep in-between the needles of the frog.
Hard Branches	First, decide at what angle you are going to insert the branch. Then, insert it at the angle, which you choose. If the branch is too thick to insert in, make some lengthwise cuts in the bottom of the branch.

2．Inserting Branches into a Vase
In additional to frogs, you may also use any other tools to hold flowers, such as vases, tubes, and pots. In this case, basically, there are two ways that can help you to insert the branches better.

First, you may just insert the branch into a vase without adding any supporting sticks into the vase. When inserting this way, please pay attention to the following points:
If you would like the flower to spread at a milder slope and appear smaller, insert the branch deeply. To make the flower spread out more and appear bigger, insert just a little bit of the branch into the vase. If the stem is too long, you can bend it at the middle, and then insert it into the vase.

Moreover, you can first add two small sticks into the vase used for supporting the branch and then insert the branch, as you like. Basically, there are two ways to add small sticks into the vase, as explained in the following information chart.

Inserting Branches into a Vase with Supporting Sticks

Cross one stick over the other

Adding one stick into the vase

1. First, prepare two sticke, which are 2-3cm longer than the inner diameter of the best. Then cut one side of each stick at a slop. 2. Fix one stick inside the vase 2-3 cm away from the mouth of the vase. 3.  the other stick under the first one in a cross. 4. Finally, insert the flower into where the 2 sticks are crossed, and make the stem of the flower stick to the inner side of the vase.

1. Prepare a stick that is a little shorter then the rest and cut this stick into 2 until where it is connected to the stem of the flower. 2. Cut the stem of the flower into the bottom in 2 until it is connected to the supporting stick. 3. Intertwine the stem of the flower and the supporting stick. 4. Arrange the flower so that the supporting stick rests on the bottom of the vase and the end of the flower sticks to the inner side of the vase.

Adapted from：Takenaka Reiko “Anyone Can Arrange Flower in a Beautiful and Simple Way”, Sekai Bunka Publishing Inc. February 1, 2006.