Among the necessary tools for any floral designers is a trusted florist knife. It is also one of the first required tools in any basic floral design class. With your handy knife in hand, beginners are taught to cut flower stems at an angle and under water for best preservation practices. With all the scissors, stem cutters, and pruners out there, why is this? The answer is actually quite simple. When scissors, stem cutters, or pruners are used, they can kink the stem and stop all water from being absorbed up the stem. Using a knife will prevent this and your flowers will last longer. Check out our Tools section to see our full line of florist tools. Checkout our other Tips of the Day. Hope this helps!