How to insert and care for flowers in a sponge?

Wishing to keep the flowers fresh as long as possible, experts use a floral sponge when making bouquets. However, the recipient of the bouquet inevitably needs to take care of the bouquet. In this case, it is important to follow the basic rules of moistening, do not overflow liquid, and avoid complete drying of the material. When creating bouquets on their own, novice florists will also need information on how to correctly insert fresh flowers into a sponge with their own hands to make a harmonious composition. Even a beginner can easily master this science.

Flowers in a sponge are a good solution for those who want to preserve the memory of a pleasant gift or surprise for a long time. With proper care, the plants stand in such a base for up to 30 days, they are stored without visible signs of wilting. Of course, not all flowers are suitable for creating compositions with a floral sponge or an oasis. For example, tulips popular today in hat boxes are collected without a base and require subsequent transfer to a vase.

Compositions with a floristic oasis have their own characteristics.

1. Shortening the stems. Depending on the height of the sides of the box, planter or basket, the sponge takes up to 2/3 of their volume. Flowers on long stems will be too vulnerable to hold on well. The cut angle must be kept at 45 degrees.
2. The ability to create complex compositions. Sponges are available in ready-made forms - in the form of a heart, a star, a ring, a hemisphere. And also from the base, you can cut out almost any shape.
3. Renewable structure. After the composition has served its life, the oasis can be rinsed, dried, and then reused.
4. Large supply of moisture. A well-moistened sponge holds a large amount of water, releases it gradually, based on the needs of a particular plant.
5. Possibility of making changes. It is very easy to fix the error when assembling the composition. It is enough to remove the stems from the base, and then immerse them again.
6. No signs of stem rot. In a vase of water, it inevitably occurs. In oases, such a phenomenon is simply ruled out. An unpleasant smell from stagnant water will not appear in the house.
7. Versatility. Compositions are created both from freshly cut flowers and from dried wood or artificial elements. You can even make a Christmas tree from branches.

These are the main features that sponge bouquets have. In addition, they are not yet difficult to clean. This means that a self-assembled composition or a ready-made gift will last as long as possible.

It is quite easy to learn how to insert flowers into a sponge with your own hands when creating a composition from living plants, if you follow certain rules. The first thing to start with is to decide on the shape of the container. Most often, a hatbox, basket or other suitable base is used in this case. The composition of the flower arrangement takes place using a special biosphere sponge (piaflora, oasis) with nutrients, which can have a cylindrical, conical, spherical or parallelepiped shape. It is easiest to cut out a base of the required size from such a "brick".

Even a small composition can be assembled at the oasis, but you need to start by preparing the necessary materials. Piaflor needs to be moistened by immersing it in a volume of liquid twice as large as the sponge itself. It is enough just to leave the material on the surface so that it absorbs the right amount of moisture.

Then, to create a composition, you will need to perform a number of simple steps.

1. Prepare the container. If it allows water to pass through, the bottom is first lined with polyethylene.
2. Place the floral sponge inside. You can fix it with special devices. The edges of the sponge to create curly multi-level compositions are left over the edge of the container. If the flowers in the bouquet are of equal height, the piaflor is lowered slightly lower. The edge of a vase or basket should protrude 0.5-1 cm above it.
3. Prepare the plants. Thorns and lower leaves are removed from them. Cut the stems to a level. Usually 2-3 types of flowers and greens on strong stems are collected in a bouquet.
4. Using a thin wooden skewer or manicure sticks, outline the location of the elements of the future composition. You should start from the edges. The penetration depth of the stem must match the length of the remaining stems. It is here that you will then need to stick the stems.
5. Place flowers in the holes made. The composition is assembled sequentially, along a spiral or perimeter. The gaps are gradually filling in. To form a spherical composition, the base is left unfilled, in the form of a narrow strip. For a cascading effect, the stems just need to be adjusted in height.

When creating spectacular compositions of fresh flowers under a glass cover, moss is often used for the interior. It is wrapped around the stems of plants after collecting the composition. In addition to purely aesthetic purposes, this addition provides a longer moisture retention at the roots.

When drawing up bouquets and compositions on a floral sponge, it is important to follow a number of basic rules.

1. Do not pierce the piaflor through. The deepening must be neat.
2. Do not pour water onto the sponge. Dry material will not get wet. There will be problems when working with it. The same rule works with attempts to forcefully press the sponge to the bottom. She should be hydrated and submerged on her own.
3. Follow the one sponge rule. Each oasis should have its own capacity.
4. For transparent bases, piaflor is masked with bark or colored oilcloth. Not a single piece of the oasis surface should be visible.

These are the basic guidelines that will help beginners cope with assembling a composition of fresh cut flowers.

Taking care of a bouquet in a basket or a flower arrangement in a box, made using a floral sponge, also needs to be done correctly. Both at home and in the salon, you can extend the life of cut plants by following simple rules.

• Watering. Normally, hydration is required daily, more often in hot and dry weather. Only settled water with low hardness, room temperature or slightly colder is used. Moisturizing is carried out using a watering can with a narrow spout or other similar vessel.

• Remove dust from leaves. Wipe them with a damp sponge or cloth. The procedure is performed daily.

• Maintain a comfortable temperature. In hot weather at night, the plants are taken out onto the balcony. It is not necessary to install the basket on the windowsill above the radiator during the heating season.

• Remove wilted heads and leaves. This will prevent them from rotting in a humid environment.

• Clean the apartment regularly. Dust can adversely affect the condition and appearance of the composition.

• Avoid strong and harsh sounds around flowers. There is scientific evidence that roses wither faster when exposed to intense acoustic exposure.

• Do not place the basket or box next to the fruit. The latter emit ammonia into the air, which is harmful to cut plants.

• Do not try to pull the stems out of the sponge. This will lead to rapid wilting.

• Take into account the individual needs of plants. Roses need boiled water, spring flowers need cold water, you can maintain the temperature with melting ice cubes. Peonies need warm watering, it is better to warm up the liquid. In freesias, wilted branches are necessarily cut off, they dry unevenly. The ingress of water on the petals is contraindicated for orchids - they become stained.

Following these recommendations, you can save the finished floristic composition for a long time. Having received timely nutrition, flowers on short stems stand for a long time without withering, they can be safely transported or stored for sale. Composition care takes no more than 5-10 minutes a day.