Some of us, including myself, have seen a block-like, spongy material that holds different types of flowers, and were unaware of what it was. The answer is floral foam. Floral foam is a material that provides support and structure while
retaining water to keep flowers hydrated and in place. If you're into flower arranging, it is the ideal tool for you. Check out the best floral foam options in this guide, like our top pick, a set of floral foam blocks from the kedudes brand. It is perfect for multiple flower arrangements of all types, making it a versatile choice.
Our Top Picks For Floral Foam
The Best Floral Foam
Best Floral Foam Overall
The floral foam pack from Premium includes six dry foam bricks, each of them very lightweight and highly porous. The dry foam is ideal for artificial silk arrangements and serves as a nice part of dried flower arrangements. The floral foam bricks are super easy to use. You can cut them in any design and style and insert flowers, stems, and bushes into them to keep them hydrated.
You can use these dry floral foam bricks with dry flowers, silk flowers, DIY flower baskets, wispy botanical permanent, and other artificial arrangements. These foam bricks are reliable, you can leave them outside in all kinds of weather.
Pros
- Sturdy and strong, can hold multiple flowers at once
- Especially great for faux and artificial flower arrangements
Cons
- Flakes rather easily
Runner Up
This moss green dry foam bricks pack is one of the best dry floral foams out there. The package of six comes in the most ideal sized dry foams. Each of them is sized at 2.6” x 3.5” x 7.8”. The foam is dense in structure and has a highly porous surface that lets a lot of water seep in and get stored.
The foam can stand tall and maintain a lot of flowers at once. You can use this dry foam for making the perfect arrangements with fragile dried stems, wispy permanent botanicals, and delicate artificial flowers. The foam is also very lightweight and pretty easy to cut and get into the shape you desire. Moreover, the green color of the foam blends perfectly with floral themes and presentations.
Pros
- Socially and economically responsible manufacturing
- Can be used outside
- Smooth surface with a green color that camouflages perfectly
Cons
- Cutting and reshaping causes a lot of mess
Honorable Mention
Made from fine Styrofoam, Carfare brings one of the best wet floral foams. This is a set of 12 blocks that are soft and highly porous that help in absorbing water. You can easily cut them up and shape them according to requirements without making any mess. All you have to do is put the brick into the water slightly for just one minute and it’ll absorb sufficient amount of water.
The foam is soft yet very strong and can hold all kinds of crafts and floral arrangements. They will keep fresh flowers just as beautiful as they can maintain artificial flowers. It is advised that you don’t try to press the foam with your hands as it’s absorbing water. Doing this can lead to insufficient suction by the foam.
Pros
- Wet foam will work in all kinds of weathers including harsh winters
- Can keep fresh flowers hydrated for a week or two
- Can be reused multiple times
Cons
- Retains water for a short time
Contender
Oasis brings you a smart pack of six floral bricks of standard size, all of them lightweight, porous, and highly dense. This floral foam comes in a perfect green color, one that can beautify all kinds of floral arrangements. Dipping the foam into the water for just a minute will make it absorb a significant amount of water to hold and keep fresh plants and stems in your arrangement hydrated.
With the longevity of fresh flowers, the foams come with an impressive MaxLife technology which enables them to biodegrade within 567 days. These foams are soft yet sturdy. You can easily cut them with a floral or regular knife into any shape and size you want without it chipping off in between.
Pros
- Soaked floral foams can work for one or two weeks
- Dry foam can last 12 months if kept in the dark
- Comes with a convenient hook for hanging floral arrangements
Cons
- Turns black when wet
Also Consider
Three pieces of green floral foam bricks, each made of soft and extremely fine Styrofoam, will retain plenty of water to keep your fresh flowers hydrated at all times. These bricks are the perfect size for handling with ease. You can also cut them and shape them however you want with a simple floral knife.
You will only need to soak the brick into the water for just one minute for it to absorb water fully. You can use this foam as a base in flower vases, floral arrangements, fresh flower bouquets, and much more. They hold enough water to keep plants hydrated for at least one week. Note that you needn’t press the foam while it is soaking up water as it can interfere in the suction process.
Pros
- Sturdy enough to hold flowers and stems but soft surface for more water absorption
- Convenient to resize and shape
- Can work with fake as well as real flowers
Cons
- Some bricks make crumbs while cutting
The Best Floral Foam Buying Guide
Based on our research, there are certain things that you must know before you go on to buy your next set of floral foam for decorations.
Things To Consider Before Buying Floral Foam
The best floral foam for fresh flowers depends on the purpose you’re getting it for. Here are some considerations worth reading when choosing the type of floral foam you need to use.
Standard kind
A standard floral foam is a medium-density one that is perfect for holding almost any kind of stem. They are usually the “one size fits all” kind. They are impressive at storing water and maximizing the flower’s life. Most of the florists or flower shops use this kind.
You should get the standard kind if you’re into daily floral work. These foams need to be placed in water to soak it up and offer the excellent saturation that they’re known for.
Springtime kind
Spring arrangements usually revolve around flowers like tulips, hyacinths, or daffodils. These flowers can be a bit challenging to manage and keep bright and fresh while designing. They have fibrous soft stems that can be tricky with the foam as they disintegrate in depths of water. The stems are mostly hollow and may cause the flower to die even faster than the others.
Such flowers need light-density foams. You can also add a toothpick or a wooden pick to the flower’s stem that’ll swell from the water and also connect the stem to the water source.
Deluxe kind
High-end styles need high-density foams. A strong grip from the high-density foam will keep the heavy stem in place. Along with a secure placement, such foams also prove to be a great source of water and increase the life of flowers in the floral arrangement.
For such forms, you also need a deep reservoir of water. They can hold a lot of water and keep flowers hydrated longer than the other kinds of foam.
Instant
This is a medium-density floral foam that is, again, perfect for most stems. Especially for roses, this foam comes with tiny holes punched in it. These holes help the foam brick to saturate at a much faster rate.
They are highly versatile due to their ease of use and quick permeation. Event designers, retailers, and hobbyists favor this kind the most.
How To Use Floral Foam
Floral foams come in the form of blocks or bricks. They can vary in size and density that you need to consider according to your need. These few simple steps clearly explain how floral foams are used:
- First, you need to cut the foam into the desired shape if it’s not already in the size or shape that’s needed for your arrangement. You can also get pre-made ones.
- Second, you soak. You have to soak the foam until it becomes fully saturated. For that, pick a wide and deep container to accommodate the entire foam. Do not try to forcefully dip the foam into the water because it will create air pockets that can dry flowers up faster.
- Most foams will take only a minute to soak up a good amount of water. The foam will turn into a darker color once it’s done.
- The foam is ready to use, place it in the container or waterproof surface you’re working on
How To Maintain Floral Foam
Floral foams need proper management and care. You need to make sure that you are considering all the safety precautions. Most floral foams are made up of phenolic foam. This material consists of several toxic substances such as formaldehyde or carbon black.
These synthetic ingredients can become a safety concern if you’re not careful while handling the floral bricks. To make sure your skin is safe from these substances, wear gloves while handling, soaking, and arranging the floral foam.
Avoid as much exposure as you can. Wear eye masks so the dust from cutting the foam won’t irritate your eyes. And, if you are shaping, cutting, or refining the foam all by yourself, you need to make sure that you’re in a properly ventilated room. Wear a dust mask to prevent inhaling any small foam particles.
Why Do You Need Floral Foams?
The customary vase setting of flowers and ferns requires no foams or additional support at the bottom. Foam becomes a major part of floral arrangements, bouquets, vase bases, and much more.
Simply put, any flower arrangement that needs a strong base to support flowers (real or fake) and their thick stems needs a floral foam. Round foams, for instance, are great for displaying as a centerpiece. Floral foams also come in many occasion-appropriate shapes such as funeral bats or crosses that can be used as-is without cutting or reshaping.
You can create wonderful floral arrangements with the help of floral foams. These foams not only give you a sturdy base for floral arrangements, but they also act as a source of water supply for the fresh plants you use in the arrangements.
The dense foam holds plenty of water within and keeps seasonal or regular flowers hydrated for as long as two weeks. It’s a great product for the longevity of the flower’s life while they beautify our spaces.
Conclusion
Floral foam is a great way to keep your plants and flowers happy, fresh, and hydrated in an arrangement where they can’t practically be dipped into the water. It offers a great base for creative ideas, holiday decorations, or beautifying your events.
PEOPLE ALSO ASKED
Can you use faux flowers in floral foam?
Yes, faux flowers can be used in floral foam to create long-lasting arrangements. However, unlike fresh flowers, faux flowers do not require hydration, so floral foam is primarily used for anchoring purposes rather than providing water to the stems.
What are the two types of floral foams?
The two main types of floral foam are wet and dry floral foam. Wet floral foam is designed to absorb and retain water, providing hydration to fresh flowers, while dry floral foam is used for artificial or dried flower arrangements as it does not absorb water.
Do flowers last longer in floral foam or water?
Flowers typically last longer when arranged in floral foam compared to water alone because the foam provides continuous hydration to the stems, prolonging their freshness. However, it's essential to monitor water levels in the foam to prevent it from drying out, ensuring optimal conditions for the flowers' longevity.
