The holidays have a way of building up and while we all have intentions of saving ourselves some time to get creative, the pressure of the holidays can leave us feeling tapped out. Fear not — I’ve collected a great arsenal of tips, tricks and hints to help you save time at the holidays — and that means you’ll have more time to be creative, add that extra pizazz, or just knock off early and get some much needed rest.

Tip No. 1. Use and measure flower nutrients.

Using the ‘7-4-1 and You’re Done’ technique you can create professional rose arrangements in minutes.I know that some people think that you’ll be going through the flowers so fast at the holiday that flower nutrients may not even be necessary, but not so my flower friend. Flower nutrients provide essential nutrition and help our flowers last longer, grow larger and even enhance color and fragrance. It wasn’t a typo when I referred to measuring — accurate measurement is the key to successful flower nutrient administration. Pair that with using the proper nutrients for the right flowers and your customers will start raving about how long your flowers last. Remember these key pieces of advice.

• Roses, gerberas and hydrangea all benefit from a hydration solution before they go into flower nutrient. My favorite is Rose Pro Hydration from Chrysal and I place all three of these flowers into Rose Pro Hydration for at least three hours (maximum 72 hours) before moving them to Professional 2.

• Bulb food is amazing for all flowers that come from a bulb or corm — not just tulips and iris — remember to use this amazing flower food on your lilies, alstroemeria, narcissus, amaryllis and hyacinth. Bulb food keeps the foliage green, enhances color and increases fragrance.

• Use the T-Bags and measure your water. T-bags from Chrysal are exact measurements of flower nutrient for a gallon, or two quarts, of water. It’s simple and makes the process super easy.

• Use an anti-transpirant after completing your arrangement. Simply put, an anti-transpirant (like Chrysal’s Professional Glory) seals the molecular structure of the flower and slows evaporation, making the flowers last up to 26 percent longer.

Tip No. 2. Use the “7-4-1 and You’re Done” technique.

This simple technique comes in very handy for making rose dozens and it allows just about anyone to create beautiful, professionally executed vase arrangement.

• ill your vase with greenery (there’s a trick for that I’ll get to in a minute).

• Place seven roses in a level circle into the vase, leaving an area in the center for more roses.

• Next, place four longer roses inside the circle of the seven roses, about 2-3 inches longer than the previous seven.

• Place one long rose into the center of the four roses, again about 2-3 inches longer than the previous four.

This technique works well, especially with Colombian or Ecuadorian roses, as they are packed with longer and shorter roses in each bunch for easy shipping. Using the longer and shorter roses — seven shorter and five longer — you’ll be making faster dozen-rose arrangements and they will look gorgeous every time.

Tip No. 3. Use Fabulous Foliage bouquets.

My friends at FernTrust in Seville, FL, created this concept. They assemble bunches of assorted foliages, pre-designed, bundled and sleeved with cellophane. They create about two dozen different recipes —from five-stem bunches aptly named “Just Add Flowers” to “The Ultimate Bouquet” that has over 30 stems — or you can create your own.

These bunches of foliage mean no waste and far less time greening a vase or container. You simply cut the bunch with your bunch cutter, remove the cellophane, and drop the foliage into the vase. A skilled arranger can create a dozen-rose arrangement in less than three minutes using a Foliage Bouquet and the 7-4-1 technique.

Imagine the time you’ll save with these three simple tips. You’ll have time to be more creative and best of all you can treat yourself to a few extra minutes of “you time” this busy holiday season.

J Schwanke is the host of Fun with Flowers and J on uBloom.com, and author of Bloom 365 — The Essential Guide to Arranging Flowers. He can be contacted at [email protected].