How to: Use floral foam

Flower foam is such a useful material for flower arranging. It is a great base for your arrangements it helps support flowers and it soaks up a large amount of water which helps the flowers last longer, and most importantly it allows you to display flowers in unique containers. There are many shapes and sizes, you can create with foam, a sphere to hang flowers to cross shapes or a funeral bat and much more. It also comes in a dry form for dried and artificial arrangements.

Its a great way when learning floristry skills to do arrangement in a container with oasis as it hold flowers together well and you can step back from the arrangements and view from all areas and have a break without holding always like a bouquet.

This is a few steps for using foam in a container for flower arrangements

Step 1. Pre-soak your foam, put it into a bucket or sink of water, make sure the water level is higher than the brick height. Let the foam soak do not push it under the water, this will create dry air pockets. Leave it for a minimum of 5 minutes, it will become dense and darker in colour.

Step 2. Cut the foam with a knife to fit into your container, you can line the container or basket with cellophane to prevent leaks. Fill only to just under the rim of the container, secure the foam with floral tape if needed.

Step 3. Add a touch of water do not fill it to the top.

Step 4. Start with prepared foliage and insert with approx 4-5 cm deep, cover your base, avoid crossing stems, putting too much in one space and try not to put the stems in and out which creates holes.

Step 5. Add flowers, start with larger, taller stems one flower type at a time, rotate your work and add filler flowers in any gaps. Then put a bit more water in the arrangement.

Make sure you check the water levels, add water every few days and don’t allow the foam to dry out.

**Also when handling the foam be safe make sure you are in a well ventilated area, wear gloves, avoid irritating your skin and eyes, by not touching or inhaling dust particles it omits.

Enjoy your glorious flowers!

(Jardines Floral Newcastle can supply florist materials for you, contact us today)