Choosing a vase might seem like the easy bit. But the truth is, it can make or break your arrangement - no pressure! The right vase gives your flowers structure, shape, and support. The wrong one? It can leave your stems slouching, squashed, or just floating awkwardly in the middle of the table.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to pick the right vase for your Wonky Flowers – whether you’re arranging something tall and sculptural, or wild and whimsical.
It’s not about having fancy glassware or a cupboard full of options. But matching the right shape and size to your bunch means:
Good vases don’t have to be expensive – they just need to work with your flowers, not against them.
A vase should be about half the height of your tallest stem. That’s usually enough to support the bunch without swallowing it whole.
If your flowers are 40cm tall, aim for a vase that’s around 20–25cm high. You can always trim your stems down to match.
Here’s a quick breakdown of common vase shapes, and when to use them:
1. Cylinder vases
Best for tall, strong stems like chrysanthemums, lilies or sunflowers. They give height and allow for some spacing, especially if you’re working with fewer stems.
2. Tapered or hourglass vases
Great all-rounders. The narrow neck helps gather your stems so the arrangement looks fuller, even with fewer flowers.
3. Bud vases & bottles
Perfect for shorter or leftover stems. Great for spreading your bunch around the house, or making mini arrangements from cut-down blooms later in the week.
4. Wide-mouthed vessels
Lovely for loose, wild arrangements – but can be tricky. If the opening is too wide, your stems might collapse to the sides. Try criss-crossing foliage or making a grid with floral tape to hold things in place.
Tip: If your vase feels too big, you can always pop a smaller jar inside it to keep your flowers snug and upright.
Got nothing fancy? Here’s what to try:
It doesn’t have to match. It just has to hold water and make your flowers feel at home.
1. Metal containers (especially unlined tin or galvanised steel)
That enamelled jug from the op shop might look perfect for a cottagecore moment, but metal vases can leach chemicals into the water, especially as the stems sit for days. This can shorten your flowers’ vase life dramatically, especially for more delicate blooms.
Tip: If you’re set on using a metal container, pop a glass or plastic cup inside as a liner. That way you keep the look, without the wilt.
2. Anything with old soap residue
A rinse isn’t enough. Old soap or detergent residue can throw off the pH and stop your stems from drinking.
3. Narrow bottles with no room to move
We love a repurposed bottle, but if your stems are squashed at the opening, they can bruise, snap or get restricted airflow, which leads to mouldy stems and cloudy water
Bottom line: If your container looks great but doesn’t hold water cleanly, steadily, or safely — hate to say it but it’s better as decor, not a vase.
Wonky Flowers come in all shapes, sizes and stem lengths – and that’s the fun part. If a stem’s too long? Trim it. Too short? Use a smaller vessel. If a flower flops, it might just want to rest lower in the arrangement.
Your vase doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to work with what you’ve got.
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