Floristry & Plant Maintenance

Independent study. xplor is not an IAMI- or PYA-accredited GUEST training provider. This course covers the ground assessed in GUEST Unit 10; it awards no GUEST unit, certificate or Certificate of Competency and does not count toward one.

Free

INT-FLORAL-1 · Flowers Onboard: Sourcing, Buying and Conditioning

4 lessons

INT-FLORAL-1.1 Yacht Floristry and Sourcing Practice in examiner →

INT-FLORAL-1.1.1

Why Yacht Floristry Is Its Own Discipline

Yacht floristry is shaped by motion, air conditioning, heat, salt air and the absence of resupply, so buying, conditioning and planning must all be done with a margin. The subject is covered by GUEST Unit 10 (governed by IAMI); xplor is not an accredited GUEST provider and these lessons award no qualification.

INT-FLORAL-1.1.2

Sourcing and Buying for a Charter

Flowers can be sourced from markets, wholesalers, florists, agents or air freight, each with trade-offs in price, freshness and reliability. Buy in bud, buy seasonally, protect stems in transit, and spend the budget on the hero positions.

INT-FLORAL-1.2 Conditioning and Vase Life Practice in examiner →

INT-FLORAL-1.2.1

Conditioning Flowers on Arrival

Conditioning rehydrates cut stems and prevents air blockage and bacterial growth: clean bucket, flower food, slanted cut, foliage stripped below the waterline, and a long cool drink. Treatment varies by stem type, and daffodil sap must never mix with other flowers.

INT-FLORAL-1.2.2

Vase Life, Ethylene and Flower Care

Vase life varies from two days for sweet peas to three weeks for chrysanthemums, so arrangements should be planned around their shortest-lived flower. Ethylene from ripening fruit and decaying material dramatically shortens vase life, while water changes, re-cutting and correct placement extend it.

INT-FLORAL-2 · Design and Mechanics for a Moving Platform

4 lessons

INT-FLORAL-2.1 Design Principles and Classic Shapes Practice in examiner →

INT-FLORAL-2.1.1

Principles of Floral Design Afloat

Good arrangements follow scale, proportion, balance, focal point, line, rhythm and texture, with colour chosen to suit the yacht palette rather than personal taste. Build in the order foliage, line flowers, focal flowers, filler.

INT-FLORAL-2.1.2

Classic Shapes for Yacht Interiors

A small reliable repertoire covers most yacht positions: low table dome, round hand-tied, tall lobby arrangement, buffet piece, bud vase, floating bowl and footed compote. Size each to its position, keeping table pieces out of the sightline.

INT-FLORAL-2.2 Mechanics, Containers and Table Styling Practice in examiner →

INT-FLORAL-2.2.1

Mechanics That Survive a Seaway

Floral foam, chicken wire, kenzan pin frogs, hand-tied spirals and tape grids each suit different pieces, and chicken wire or kenzan are the sustainable professional default. Build with a low centre of gravity, weighted bases, non-slip fixings, and stow arrangements before the sea builds.

INT-FLORAL-2.2.2

Containers, Palette and Table Styling

Containers are ship inventory: know what is irreplaceable, line anything not watertight, and work to the yacht palette rather than personal taste. Table pieces must stay below the sightline, clear of service paths, unscented, and away from ripening fruit.

INT-FLORAL-3 · Placement, Upkeep and Living Plants

3 lessons

INT-FLORAL-3.1 Placement and Daily Upkeep Practice in examiner →

INT-FLORAL-3.1.1

Placement Around the Yacht

Placement determines vase life as much as conditioning does: keep arrangements out of the AC airflow, out of direct sun, away from heat sources and ripening fruit, and clear of walkways and service paths. Test each position from the guest eye level and the crew service route.

INT-FLORAL-3.1.2

Daily Upkeep, Pollen, Scent and Disposal

A daily round of topping up, changing water, re-cutting, removing spent material and refreshing from a reserve bucket keeps arrangements looking new. Remove lily anthers to prevent permanent staining, keep scented flowers away from dining, and dispose of flower waste under the yacht Garbage Management Plan and MARPOL Annex V.

INT-FLORAL-3.2 Living Plants, Alternatives and Records Practice in examiner →

INT-FLORAL-3.2.1

Living Plants, Alternatives and Records

Living plants and orchids need correct light, drainage, humidity and feeding, with overwatering the most common cause of loss, and they need a plan for yard periods and passages. Good-quality preserved and artificial material has a legitimate place where fresh flowers cannot survive, and photographs plus supplier records preserve what the owner liked.

Aligned to the IAMI GUEST Program framework. Preparatory study only — assessment and certification are carried out by an approved GUEST Training Provider. Official source (GUEST Program).

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