Nguyen Thi My, an experienced florist in District 3, meticulously uproots succulents from their pots, transforming them into stunning, large-scale bouquets and floral arrangements, each weighing tens of kilograms. These are the epitome of “beautiful,” “unique,” and “extraordinary” designs.
My, 35, has been running her flower shop for over a decade. Throughout her business journey, she noticed that many customers loved flowers but hesitated to buy them because they wither quickly, lasting only a few days. As a passionate succulent enthusiast with a wide variety of these plants at home, I realized that they are just as beautiful as fresh flowers. Succulents come in diverse colors, and I decided to experiment with a few designs. To my surprise, customers absolutely loved the succulent bouquets and arrangements,” My shared.
My has experimented with many different types of succulents to create a wide range of designs, from arranging them in vases and baskets to crafting intricate bouquets. Uprooting fresh succulents from their pots, My carefully removes the soil from each plant’s roots, then attaches the stems to bamboo sticks to insert them into foam blocks for secure placement.
“Succulents are much heavier and more challenging to shape than fresh flowers. In the beginning, I faced significant difficulties with my designs, often having to rearrange a succulent vase multiple times before achieving the desired result,” My explained.
Because of the weight of the succulents, those who work with them must be experienced enough to gauge the appropriate weight distribution to prevent the arrangements from tipping over. My noted that this task requires a skilled hand and careful consideration.
A succulent basket like this one costs around 3 million VND and weighs over 3 kilograms. While fresh flowers may only last one or two days, these succulent arrangements can stay fresh for up to 30 days.
This succulent arrangement is priced at approximately 1.7 million VND. “Succulent lovers can disassemble each plant and repot them to create their own personal succulent garden,” My affirmed.
My highlighted that succulents, with their vibrant colors and long-lasting qualities, are ideal for gifts on occasions like birthdays and grand openings. Customers are often thrilled with these succulent arrangements because they are not yet widely available in the market.
A typical fresh flower bouquet adorned with three succulent branches.
One of My’s creative ventures involves transforming succulents into bridal bouquets. Each of these unique bridal bouquets is priced at around 1.3 million VND.
My revealed that when it comes to bridal flowers, it’s best to limit the number of succulent branches due to their weight. She often uses one large succulent as the focal point, accentuating it with smaller branches or combining it with other fresh flowers to create a light and elegant bouquet.
Reflecting on her three years of experimenting with succulent arrangements, My fondly recalled a morning when a customer called her after receiving their order, saying, “I’ve lived 65 years, but I’ve never seen such a grand and beautiful succulent arrangement. I want to keep this for as long as possible. Please teach me how to care for it.” This interaction transformed My into not just a seller but also a consultant on succulent care for her customers.
My shared her dream of elevating succulents to new heights. To achieve this, she constantly strives to create innovative and unique products daily, offering customers a wide variety of choices, just like traditional fresh flowers.
