If you want to improve your floral design skills, then you need to learn the basics of working with floral foam.
This short video shows you the right way to make a base for your arrangement with floral foam, even if you’ve never worked with it before.
If you are new to floral design, this video will get you started on the right foot, showing you how to create a solid foundation for all types of floral arrangements.
Even if you’ve worked with floral foam before, it also contains some tips that you may not have known!
I think you will enjoy this video, especially if you love arranging flowers and want to learn more. Take a look and see if you agree!
And there you have it! I trust you picked up a few valuable tips from the video. Floral foam will allow you to easily design any floral arrangement that requires more structure, from centerpieces to larger floral displays.
Its versatility allows you a wide variety of design options while serving as a water source to help extend flower life and maintain beautiful, long-lasting flowers.
What’s the Best Brand of Floral Foam to Use?
“Oasis” is often used as a generic term when referring to floral foam, but the Oasis® brand floral foam is considered by most to be the gold standard in the flower industry.
Even though several other floral foam name brands are available, I do not recommend using a private-label or generic brand. I’ve used them in a pinch, but that’s about it.
In my experience, it’s not worth the tiny amount of money you save. A floral arrangement is only as good as the foundation that it’s built on – and Oasis® is still the best, in my opinion.
The Oasis® brand floral foam used in this video can be purchased on Amazon, or from a local florist or craft store.
Assuming you are soaking your floral foam before putting it into your container, you’ll need to secure it with waterproof tape.
Oasis® does have its brand of waterproof floral tape, but I prefer to use the Atlantic waterproof tape, because I think it has better adhesion. Both are good, but the Atlantic brand has been around longer.
Do you need to prepare your containers in advance or require a stronger bond? If so, I would recommend gluing a block of dry floral foam into your container, rather than taping it down.
Once the glue has cooled, you can soak the floral foam by submerging the entire container in water before using it.
I prefer gluing over taping and use it most of the time. For me, it’s more cost-effective and makes it easier to hide the design mechanics.
Choosing the Right Density of Floral Foam to Use
Oasis® offers several densities of foam and a variety of specialty shapes for a range of floral design uses.
Standard Oasis® is what most designers are familiar with. It’s a medium-density foam that is used for most types of flowers.
I’ve been using Instant Oasis® in the shop for years for all the everyday arrangements we do. It’s standard density with holes for faster water absorption.
There is also a lighter density floral foam called “Springtime” which works well when using soft-stemmed, more delicate flowers, such as tulips, daffodils, iris, and calla lilies.
“Deluxe” is a higher-density foam often used when working with large, sturdy stems like gladiolas, flowering branches, and tropical flowers like birds of paradise, torch ginger, and heliconia.
Deluxe Oasis® is used when creating more substantial arrangements for weddings, sympathy tributes, and special events. Like standard Oasis®, it’s also available in an “instant” version for faster water absorption.
Floral Foam Shapes
You can cut floral foam into any shape you want. Or buy it in the form and configuration you’ll need for your floral design.
Custom shapes available include cones, spheres, crosses, hearts, ribbons, rounds, squares, garlands, and others that will save you time and offer different design options.
Some of these items are plastic or papier mache backed to prevent water leakage. Others are caged, such as the Floracage® and Corso® holders, as well as the complete line of wedding bouquet holders.
Using pre-made shapes is a great way to jumpstart your creativity, but don’t stop there. By cutting and shaping your forms, you can create one-of-a-kind floral designs for any occasion.
Preparing Flower Foam for Use
Fill a container with clean water and add floral preservative according to directions. In the shop, we use an ordinary dishpan, cold water, and Floralife flower food. We use the liquid, but the powdered variety is fine, too.
Place the foam block on top of the water and let it pull in the water. Never force water into the floral foam by holding it underwater. That creates an air pocket in the foam, preventing water uptake by your flowers.
After a few minutes, your floral foam will be soaked and ready to use.
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