I used to think floral foam was just part of the job

I mean, I've been using it for years in my arrangements, idk, it was just what you did. But last week, a bride for a wedding in Tempe asked if we could do her centerpieces without it, saying she read it was bad for the water. I looked it up and, yeah, it's basically plastic that breaks down and never goes away. I did her order with chicken wire and tape instead, and honestly, it held up just as well for the 6 hour event. Has anyone else switched away from foam and found a good method for big pieces?

4 comments

4 Comments

brianm662mo ago

Switched to chicken wire and water tubes years ago. Honestly, it's way better for big, heavy stems like hydrangeas. The foam just crumbles and makes a huge mess. Tbh, the old school methods often work just as well without the plastic waste.

the_fiona2mo ago

Ugh, I feel that. Logan_wells is right, foam dust gets into everything.

logan_wells2mo ago

How long do those water tubes last for you? I was totally stuck on floral foam for ages because it was so easy to find. But you're right about the mess, it just turns to dust and gets everywhere. I tried the chicken wire trick on some peonies last season and it was a total game changer. Never going back to the foam now.

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the_christopher1mo ago

Hey, has anyone here tried using a kenzan for heavier stems? My buddy @logan_wells actually told me about a florist friend of his who used one for a wedding centerpiece and it worked great until the bride's cousin knocked the whole thing over and water went everywhere. They had to redo half the table decor with paper towels and hope no one noticed. Still better than foam though, I bet.