Wedding decorations are incomplete without flowers, and what could be better than fresh flowers that look not only visually appealing but also smell divine, enhancing the atmosphere? Among all the floral arrangements, the wedding centerpiece is a statement piece that elevates the decoration’s overall look and charm.
Fresh flowers are meticulously selected and arranged into a single piece with the help of floral foams. These floral foams or oasis are soaked in water before inserting the flower stems into them. They provide essential hydration to the flowers to help them remain fresh for longer.
However, an oasis is not appealing to look at. They are green sponges in brick shapes that can soak up water and can be cut into desired shapes according to the container or vase used. If you are using a clear container, which is a common choice for a wedding centerpiece container, this green block of foam can degrade the look of the centerpiece. To prevent this, you need to know how to hide floral foam in an arrangement. There are several methods that you can use to hide the oasis or use some eco-friendly alternatives to create your floral designs.
Methods to hide floral foam
Use of oasis containers:
Oasis containers are containers to hold the oasis with the flowers tightly so that they stay in place and do not get disturbed during movement. These containers are generally made out of plastics but are also available in different eco-friendly materials such as clay, glass, or other biodegradable materials. The flowers can be arranged in these containers and then placed inside the main clear container to hide the oasis.
Use aluminum foil:
Aluminum foil can be an easily available material that can be used to hide the oasis. You can place a piece of pre-cut aluminum foil inside the container and then place the foam over it and cover it. Tightly secure the foam in place and then insert the flower stems into it. This will create a camouflage and hide the foam brick.
Clear tape:
This is another cheap and easy solution to the foam problem. After soaking the oasis in water, take it out and wrap the lower half and the sides of the oasis in clear tape to cover it. Place it in the container and then start putting in the flowers. You can also create grids with the help of clear tape over the container and then insert the flower stems to completely hide the oasis.
Waterproof ribbons:
A waterproof floral ribbon or a poly ribbon is used by florists to create bows for flower bouquets. They come in different colors and different materials. Satin ribbons are most common as they can be washed and reused again and again. These are also available in jute, which is a natural material. Oasis waterproof ribbons can be used to tie the stems of the flowers together or wrap around the vase. They can also be used to enhance the look of the centerpiece by not only hiding the oasis but also giving a cascading look to the arrangement, creating an element of drama.
Use of Aspidistra or Ti leaves:
Ti leaves and Aspidistra leaves are often seen in floral arrangements to fill the empty spaces and give them volume. Ti leaves are vibrant green colored and extremely flexible allowing them to be folded like bows and incorporated into the arrangement. They can easily hide or camouflage the oasis. They also help in adding texture and are often used as background or foliage.
Wrapping the oasis with hydrangea leaves:
Hydrangea leaves or lily leaves are other alternatives used to hide the floral foam due to their large surface. Both of these leaves can be used to wrap the oasis or line the inside of the clear container. These can also be used as fillers or for texture. Using hydrangea leaves as fillers inside the container gives stability and support to the oasis. Hydrangeas leaves are also present in different shapes and sizes, presenting options to choose from according to your needs.
Water beads:
Using gel water beads inside clear containers around the oasis will provide extra moisture to the oasis and give a nice glass look to the arrangement. The gel beads can be soaked with water and spread over and around the floral foam. The multicolor gel water beads will act as vase filler providing some support and moisture to the oasis.
Using a flat Lomey dish:
A Lomey dish is a flat shallow dish made out of glass. You can place your wet floral foam in a Lomey dish and then place it inside the main arrangement container or vase. This will act as extra support and hide the foam from being visible from the outside.
Using glass marbles:
These are the same as using water beads inside your vase or container as fillers, but the difference is that these can provide more structure and support to the foam. Or you can place the oasis with the flowers attached inside the container and cover it with marbles. Marbles are present in single or multicolor, which can add a different look to the arrangement.
Painting the vase:
You can simply paint the clear vase with your choice of color to make it more compatible with the theme of your arrangement or to give it some color. You may also color the insides of the vase to give it a frosted look and hide the oasis with the greens of the stems of flowers.
Alternatives to the floral foam for centerpiece arrangements
Chicken wire mesh:
The use of chicken wire to create floral designs is probably older than the use of floral foams. These are easy to cut and sculpt. You can roll the wires into a mesh ball and insert the flower clippings to create magnificent arrangements. You can also use this technique to create arrangements around standing structures or clear containers. The mesh creates places to hold the flowers in place tightly and can be used with or without floral foam.
Using rocks, pebbles, and gravel:
Using river rocks or small pebbles to hold a flower arrangement in place can be another simple yet effective trick to hold the arrangements in place. The rocks and pebbles make it easy to insert the flower stems and hide the floral foam from sight. This method also creates a classy and unique look. This is eco-friendly and does not cost much or require major effort.
Wood wool:
Wood wool or wood shavings can be another cost-effective way to hide the floral foam. These are also eco-friendly and easily available as packaging material. The wood wool can be clustered together tightly and placed inside wire mesh or around floral foams to hide them and give a more natural and organic look to the arrangements. They too have some water-absorbing capacity and provide additional hydration to the flowers.
Willow or pliable reeds:
Using a pliable reed or willow to create wreaths around the floral arrangement will give a more natural and rustic look to the arrangement. You can place the oasis inside the wreath to hide it or altogether avoid using the oasis. The wreaths provide a very stable structure to hold the arrangement and flowers tightly in place and prevent flowers from falling off or getting disturbed during moving.
Natural moss:
Moss is a great solution for creating delicate and classy-looking flower arrangements. This method can also eliminate the use of wet floral foams or be useful in hiding them. You can safely tuck in the wet oasis inside the container with flowers and then carefully arrange the moss above it to create a moss layer or surface. You could also use it as a design element for your arrangements, along with the flowers. Moss can be easily manipulated into different shapes using strings or wires to adjust according to your wedding centerpiece container.
Floral clay:
Floral clay is a waterproof clay-like material that acts as an adhesive. It can stick with almost anything and can be used to wrap around floral foam to hide it and secure it in place. It can be reused again and again and is super easy to use. It comes in different colors and helps the oasis to stick to the bottom of the container and not get displaced.
Foliage:
Another amazing way to give your floral decoration a natural look is using additional foliage to completely cover the foam. This method carries the risk of speeding up bacterial growth but can be an effective solution for arrangements that do not need to last long. You can either keep some of the original flower foliage or add additional foliage to completely hide the oasis. They give a nice original look to the arrangement, just like a bouquet, while providing additional strength to the floral foam to remain in place.
Grass wreaths:
Dry grass wreaths are another wise way to hide the oasis. You can create a wreath-like structure or nest-like structure with the grass and spread it above and around your flowers to hide the oasis under it. Dry grass helps the oasis retain moisture for a long time and provides a simple yet natural look to the arrangement.
Conclusion
Floral containers for wedding centerpieces are an essential part of the decoration of any wedding. A good floral arrangement, irrespective of an indoor or outdoor venue, can improve the look of the space. Flowers instantly enhance the atmosphere and the scenery. However, while using a clear floral container, the look of floral foam can degrade the charm of the arrangement.
However, the above-discussed method helps to hide the oasis while preserving or enhancing the overall look of the arrangement. The best choice of method could vary according to your needs, whether the arrangements are large or small or are supposed to be taken by the guests. Another thing to consider is the cost of materials and the time and labor it takes to create your centerpieces.
