Important tips for using floral foam
Floral foam is one of the most important of all floristry supplies. It can be used wet or dry and it can be purchased in bulk or per piece. There are a number of different brands from which to choose and this foam is easy to cut into whatever shape you need.
For the most part, we are familiar with wet foam. This is because it is soaked in water and used to support and hydrate fresh flowers and foliage. This foam is green in colour and it is extremely dense. Dry foam, on the other hand, is brown and gritty. It is used for dried and artificial flower displays.
For the most part, floral foam is made I brick or cylindrical shape. This means that they can easily be cut to size. It's also possible to buy trays or holders that are already filled with foam. They vary in price depending on how the foam is secured to the tray. They are ideal for creating flower designs like swags, wreaths, and sympathy tributes.
When using wet floral foam, it's important that you make sure it's in good condition and not cracked, crumbling, or dirty. If you have some used foam, it will already have holes in it. These holes will no support the stems as they should which means that floral foam is not suitable for reuse.
Before you begin filling your foam with flower stems, you need to prepare the foam. Soak it in a sink or bucket full of fresh water. If you run the foam under running water, this will only wet the exterior. It will not penetrate and saturate the foam. The foam needs to soak for about 20 to 30 seconds. If it gets too wet, it will start to break up. Now remove the foam from the water and set it aside to drain slightly. Cut the foam to the right shape is necessary. If you are using foam in a container, the foam should be about an inch higher than the container. You want to make sure that there is enough foam sticking out so that you can insert flowers and foliage around the edge. The foam can be secured to the container using various methods. Choose the one that suits your needs best.
