FLOWER CARE – ARRANGEMENTS IN FLORAL FOAM
Posted on 08 October 2020
Receiving the gift of an arrangement of flowers is a beautiful thing – whether it be a celebration, a congratulations, even as a condolence. Flowers have a way of expressing one’s feelings and intentions to another, in a way that words sometimes cannot.
In some cases, these flowers come in the form of an arrangement in floral foam, also known as oasis. Oasis is a typically green, sponge-like material, and is most commonly used for arrangements in small coloured boxes. Because it is something people are often unfamiliar with, looking after an arrangement in floral foam often seems a little daunting. However, with the tips and tricks listed below, hopefully you will find that it’s actually super simple and easy, and you have absolutely nothing to worry about!
The purpose of oasis is to hold water; the foam is usually first soaked through over a few hours, and then cut into the desired shape, ie the shape required to fill a container. Once the container has been filled with the oasis, flower and greenery stems are cut and positioned in the oasis, much like a pincushion is used to hold pins.
The water which has been soaked into the oasis helps to hydrate your arrangement. However, as the water is absorbed by the plants, the oasis needs to be given more water to reabsorb, in order to replenish the lost fluids. Pour the water in until you can see the waterline just becoming level with the foam, between every one to two days. You can determine if the water needs topping up by pressing your finger gently into an exposed section of the oasis. If you can see water coming out from where you have made an indentation, you don’t need to add any more water.
To make sure your flowers stay happy as well as hydrated, keep your arrangement away from direct sunlight, as well as draughts or heating/cooling systems. Heat from direct sunlight can cause irreversible damage to the petals and leaves of your flowers. Draughts and/or wind may cause the protective natural coating on the surfaces of your flower’s petals to degrade thus causing damage to the flowers themselves and shortening their life spans, and heating/cooling systems can dry out the flowers beyond repair.
These are just a few of the key things you need to know, to ensure your arrangements have a long and healthy lifespan! Flowers bring a special little something to your home, and hopefully with this knowledge on hand, they can continue to do so long after they have passed from the hands of your local florist, into your very knowledgeable hands!
- Hailey Paige Flowers xx
