Do's and Don't of working with Oasis?

[VJD]

Would anyone like to share some of their do's and don'ts about working with oasis?

• When using floral foam in a basket or other container that needs a liner, use the appropriate sized liner. Two lashes with a wet noodle if the liner is too small!

The liner should fit the container to provide for the largest amount of water supply, and also, so that when the customer adds water, he hits the liner, not a gap in between the container and liner.
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• Don't sprinkle powdered preservative on foam as you wet it or soak it. Soak your foam in water, with the correct amount of preservative. Take a refresher course and read the directions on the bucket for the amount of preservative to use.

• Don't fill the whole container with foam - leave space for as much water as possible. If you're jamming your foam into a plastic liner and the liner buckles, trim your foam! (if you don't, may your liner split, and leak water that you don't notice until AFTER the arrangement is finished!)

• When you need to make your foam higher for use in a deep container, remember, water does not "wick" from one layer of foam to another. (picture a layer cake, with the layers made out of floral foam. If water is not kept as high as the "top layer", that layer gets no water)

ok - Down off my soap-box - can you tell my pet peeves?

 

[RWK]

Good points VJD - All of them and so correct !!!!!

 

[marigold]

Ok, so here's some advice for ya......
If you need to glue Dry oasis, or Sahara for that matter, in the bottom of a glass or crystal container, FIRST put down strips of duct tape in the bottom of the container, Then glue your foam to that. That way after the arrangement is done and over with, OR if the container is expensive, you do not harm the container. you just pull off the foam and remove the tape, easy breezy!
.

Thanks, Shannon, this is a wonderful idea.

 

[Joe Cool]

There are some great tidbits throught this thread. Here are some additional facts that may help. Since we make Aquafoam, my comments apply to Aquafoam. Most apply to all floral foams but I don't want to speak for them incase some do not apply.

Holes in the bottom of the foam are there to help the foam soak up water faster. The holes help the air escape as the foam soaks up the water. I read one comment that the holes let the water run back out of the foam. If water was running out of the foam, it was due to something else, probably a quality issue with the foam.

Float soak your foam. By placing the foam on top of the water and letting it soak up the water allows the air to escape. If you dunk the foam, you are actually trapping air which causes the dry spots you experience.

There are basically 2 densities of foam (Standard and Deluxe). Standard will handle most sizes of stems. Deluxe is reccommended for thicker, heavier stems.

I read several comments on dust and fumes. Aquafoam actually has less dust than the other brands. This is due to the process we use to cut the foam into bricks. You will also notice less fumes. We take an extra step to help eliminate the fumes before we box up the foam. Try it, I think you will notice a difference.

 

[rsef]

I'm a fan of Aquafoam over oasis! You're right, the dust is much less.

 

[Rhonda]

we used to save shavings and small pieces of foam in a bucket next to our float sink until the Oasis started molding. (the mold was actually penicillin - had it tested) we then switched to Aquafoam.

 

[TGDragonfly]

I always precut blocks before soaking. The smaller cuts come in handy down the road and are stored dry easier then wet. Makes the garbage cans a heck of a lot lighter too and I just hate throwing water in the landfill.

 

[Carol Bice]

I reread my post and realized that I said hole go up. I meant the holes go down with the logo going up. Sorry.

Carol Bice

 

[floraldesignson99th]

Don't soak too long (like days) it gets soft & mushy...in 'days of yore' we would soak a half box at a time and usually threw away some ! Maybe it was a different consistency 'back then' ?

 

[Joe Cool]

Carol,

Actually you would be correct with either answer. It really doesn't matter if the holes are up or down. The key it to let it float and soak up the water on its own. We have actually tested it both ways and have found that with the holes up, it actually soaks a couple of seconds faster. But when it takes less than 30 seconds, I am not sure a couple of seconds really matters.

 

[Carol Bice]

Carol,

Actually you would be correct with either answer. It really doesn't matter if the holes are up or down. The key it to let it float and soak up the water on its own. We have actually tested it both ways and have found that with the holes up, it actually soaks a couple of seconds faster. But when it takes less than 30 seconds, I am not sure a couple of seconds really matters.

I have been told in a class that we should never put it in the container sideways (holes going back and forth). Can you shed any light on this?

Carol Bice

 

[RWK]

Carol, I can't shed any light on why you should or should not put Oasis/Aquafoam in a container sideways or standing on end. Take for example the tall square vase from AFCON - the Designer Vase or DESVASE as it is labeled.

I love that vase for contemprary, tropical, forma-linear style designs and it takes 1 brick of foam - shaved into a square - to reach the level top of the vase.....so I usually take some of the trim and place in the bottom to lift up the remainder of the brick to above the rim/lip of the container.

I have experienced no problems in longetivety, loss of water, splitting, cracking or anything problematic standing it on end.......( of course, if it not gridded, caged with chicken wire, or taped really well, any foam will split if you try to put an inch thick or so big heliconia stem in it without any preparation to the foam.........or say 12 glads in a half brick without the proper prep )

 

[Joe Cool]

Carol,

I don't know who put on the class you are referring to in your thread. As far as we are concerned at Syndicate, you can put the foam(AQUAFOAM) in a container any direction you want. The cell structure of the foam is what holds the water, so the holes punched in the foam do not matter, they are really just there to help let the air escape when soaking up water. Hope this helps to answer your question.