What is the name of the sponge for flower arrangements?

It turns out that freshly cut flowers are not only collected into beautiful bouquets. Recently, gifts decorated with live buds have become popular. The creation of such delightful compositions is usually done by florists - people with special talent and a sense of beauty. After all, it’s true what they say: “Working with flowers is working with beauty.” Such bouquets become an excellent addition to the wedding interior; they decorate arches, columns, make delicate baskets, exquisite garlands and even toys.

However, this does not mean that you need to take freshly cut flowers and simply attach them to the base. When working, florists use many tools and materials to ensure that the final result is durable and neat. A mandatory element when creating such compositions is a green porous sponge. It is she who is the basis of the entire bouquet.

Green sponge for flowers - what is it called?

This material is called differently: floral sponge, piaflor or oasis. Used to create amazing bouquets of flowers - fresh, dry, artificial.

The sponge was first invented in Denmark in the 1940s. However, its original purpose is not floristry at all, but aircraft manufacturing.

Essentially, it is a porous material that resembles foam in appearance.

What is a floral sponge

The main purpose of the oasis is to firmly strengthen the flowers at a specific angle (any) and prolong their freshness.A product of synthetic origin, with a very finely porous structure. The advantage of piaflor is that the absorbed liquid does not evaporate for quite a long time, maintaining maximum humidity. Fresh bouquets will last much longer in a sponge than, for example, in a vase. The stems do not rot or mold.

It is not recommended to allow the oasis to dry out completely. If you don't need it yet, wrap it in aluminum foil or cling film - if stored this way, it will last a couple more times.

Piaflor has different purposes - it depends on the shade in which it is painted:

• green - for freshly cut bouquets that love a lot of moisture;
• gray and brown - for artificial ones;
• multi-colored – multifunctional, suitable in any situation.

The green sponge can be made in different variations - a heart, a sphere, a hemisphere, but often in the shape of a brick or a circle.

Cutting the material is very simple, so absolutely any shape can be cut out of it. And for those who don’t want to bother too much, you can look for ready-made products in a variety of options: balls, hearts, wreaths, cars, animals, numbers, globes and much more. True, they are quite difficult to find, and they are more expensive.

How to use a floral sponge correctly

Dry piaflor is cut into pieces of suitable size. Then it is generously moistened with water or a preservative solution. How long it will take is an ambiguous question, since everything depends on the size of the sponge, its density, and water temperature.

You can even find a special knife for piaflora on sale. The stainless steel blade is made in such a way as to ensure easy and economical cutting.

When you wet the foam, you do not need to press or twist it at all, and it is also not recommended to pour it on top or press it to speed up the immersion in water, otherwise the inside of the sponge will not get wet, but only the top layer will be saturated. It is enough to take a suitable deep container, fill it with liquid and place piaflor on top. The water itself will fill the pores, and the sponge will get wet evenly.

If you use a large oasis, there is often a risk that it will simply fall apart. Then you need to use a special ready-made base or tie it with a rope.