Floral foam vs foam-free arranging: chicken wire, kenzan and tape grids

TUREFF• •0

For decades the green, water-soaking floral foam was simply how arrangements were made. Many florists and hobbyists are now moving away from it. This guide explains why, and how to hold flowers in place without it.

What floral foam is

The familiar green foam is a plastic-based material, typically a phenol-formaldehyde resin, that soaks up water and lets you push stems in at any angle. It is cheap, easy and holds stems rigidly, which is why it became standard for wedding work, table centres and sympathy designs.

The environmental concerns

It is not biodegradable in any practical sense. It does not break down like plant material.
It crumbles into tiny particles. A study by RMIT University in Australia, published in Science of the Total Environment, examined floral foam as a source of microplastics and found that a range of freshwater and marine animals ingested the particles, with some showing signs of stress as a result.
Disposal habits make it worse. Rinsing foam dust or soaking water down the sink sends those particles into the drains.
Dust when cutting it is something many florists choose to avoid breathing; wearing a mask is sensible if you do cut it.

Some newer foam products are marketed as more environmentally friendly. Claims vary, so read what a product actually says about how it breaks down and how to dispose of it. If you still use foam, many florists recommend treating it as general waste rather than pouring its water away or composting it.

Foam-free option 1: chicken wire

Chicken wire is the workhorse of foam-free floristry.

Cut a piece a little larger than the vase opening and loosely scrunch it into a ball or pillow.
Push it into the vase so it fills the top part, leaving the bottom free for water.
Secure it with clear tape or by hooking it over the rim, so it cannot shift.
Thread stems through the holes. The layers of wire hold them at almost any angle.

Plastic-coated wire is kinder to delicate vases, and a ball of wire can be reused many times.

Foam-free option 2: a kenzan (pin frog)

A kenzan is a heavy metal base covered in upright pins, traditionally used in ikebana.

Put it in a shallow dish or low bowl.
Push stems straight down onto the pins, or cut woody stems with a split at the base to grip better.
It suits low, airy designs and works well with branches.

A kenzan lasts for years and contains no plastic to shed. Clean and dry it after use to stop rust.

Foam-free option 3: a tape grid

For a vase with a wide mouth:

Make sure the rim is completely dry.
Lay strips of clear florist's tape across the opening in a grid, like a noughts-and-crosses board.
Run a strip around the rim to anchor the ends.
Place stems through the squares; foliage then hides the tape.

This is ideal for home arrangements and costs almost nothing.

Other foam-free mechanics

Twigs and branches criss-crossed inside a vase make a natural support.
Moss (from sustainable sources) can hold stems in low designs, though it does not hold water like foam.
Glass or metal frogs, the vintage cousins of the kenzan, are often found second-hand.
Water tubes keep individual stems hydrated in installations and garlands.
Reusable structures such as wire frames can be stripped and reused after an event.

Which should you use?

For anything in a vase at home, foam-free mechanics are usually easier and cheaper. Large installations and arrangements that must hold stems at extreme angles are where professionals find foam hardest to replace, and they combine the techniques above. Have you gone foam-free? Share what worked, or ask about holding a tricky design without foam, in the comments.