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Oasis (the flower arranging medium)
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Another John
Sep 9, 2012, 6:36:48 AM9/9/12
to
Simple question: can oasis be reconstituted?
My wife and I are not flower arrangers as such, but we do a bit now and
again, and we have various odd bits of this interesting stuff lying
around. As with every single, solitary thing around our household, we
are reluctant to throw it away.
Ta
John
My wife and I are not flower arrangers as such, but we do a bit now and
again, and we have various odd bits of this interesting stuff lying
around. As with every single, solitary thing around our household, we
are reluctant to throw it away.
Ta
John
Message has been deleted
Another John
Sep 9, 2012, 3:37:46 PM9/9/12
to
In article <ab3bdj...@mid.individual.net>,
Sacha <sa...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> It can't be re-used if it's been wet and then allowed to dry out. It
> simply won't absorb the water. You could always use it for dried
> flowers, though. Otherwise, I can't think of anyway it could be
> re-used.
OK thanks Sacha -- an authoritative answer!
Cheers
John
Sacha <sa...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> It can't be re-used if it's been wet and then allowed to dry out. It
> simply won't absorb the water. You could always use it for dried
> flowers, though. Otherwise, I can't think of anyway it could be
> re-used.
OK thanks Sacha -- an authoritative answer!
Cheers
John
Jeff Layman
Sep 9, 2012, 3:45:05 PM9/9/12
to
On 09/09/2012 12:04, Sacha wrote:
whether or not Oasis can be reused.
The makers of Oasis carefully avoid directly answering the question as
to whether or not dried Oasis can be reused. This is from the FAQs on
their website: (http://souk.oasisfloral.com/faqs/faqs)
"Can I use OASIS� Floral Foam after it has dried out?
We strongly recommend that you use the floral foam right after you have
soaked it. However, if you find you are unable to use the floral foam
immediately after soaking, leave the floral foam in the soaking
container for up to twenty-four hours, rather than letting it dry out. "
Also see "Using Floral Foam Effectively " point 9) here:
http://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/tips.html
The main problem seems to be that holes caused by previous use can cause
air pockets which can prevent water reaching the cut stems.
Used Oasis can be sliced up and used to cover the holes in flower pots.
Water can drain away through it. Ants won't come into the pots
through it. If you crumble it a little (not crush it to powder!) it can
be used to help aerate compost (in a similar way to perlite). I use it
for orchids to aerate and lighten the compost they are in.
--
Jeff
> It can't be re-used if it's been wet and then allowed to dry out. It
> simply won't absorb the water. You could always use it for dried
> flowers, though. Otherwise, I can't think of anyway it could be
> re-used.
There are quite a few websites which come down on opposite sides as to
> simply won't absorb the water. You could always use it for dried
> flowers, though. Otherwise, I can't think of anyway it could be
> re-used.
whether or not Oasis can be reused.
The makers of Oasis carefully avoid directly answering the question as
to whether or not dried Oasis can be reused. This is from the FAQs on
their website: (http://souk.oasisfloral.com/faqs/faqs)
"Can I use OASIS� Floral Foam after it has dried out?
We strongly recommend that you use the floral foam right after you have
soaked it. However, if you find you are unable to use the floral foam
immediately after soaking, leave the floral foam in the soaking
container for up to twenty-four hours, rather than letting it dry out. "
Also see "Using Floral Foam Effectively " point 9) here:
http://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/tips.html
The main problem seems to be that holes caused by previous use can cause
air pockets which can prevent water reaching the cut stems.
Used Oasis can be sliced up and used to cover the holes in flower pots.
Water can drain away through it. Ants won't come into the pots
through it. If you crumble it a little (not crush it to powder!) it can
be used to help aerate compost (in a similar way to perlite). I use it
for orchids to aerate and lighten the compost they are in.
--
Jeff
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted
Jeff Layman
Sep 11, 2012, 5:39:44 AM9/11/12
to
On 09/09/2012 23:49, Sacha wrote:
>
> In flower arranging terms, I have never, ever in over 30 years found it
> able to take up water once it has dried out. Indeed, if you keep it
> wet, it's fine, used or unused. Dried out, forget it, used or unused.
> I've tried both! I even treated our church to a whole new box of it
> because I just could not stand being faced with dried out and useless
> Oasis. If you soak some and don't use it, or if you want to preseve
> some you have used, you MUST keep it wet!
Once I've got some spare time(!) I'll run a trial on it. My wife has a
box of the stuff she has never used. I'll weigh some a few minutes
after immersing and draining, let it dry (will a month be long enough?)
and immerse, drain, and weigh again. Should give a definitive answer as
to whether or not it will take up water after being allowed to dry.
--
Jeff
>
> In flower arranging terms, I have never, ever in over 30 years found it
> able to take up water once it has dried out. Indeed, if you keep it
> wet, it's fine, used or unused. Dried out, forget it, used or unused.
> I've tried both! I even treated our church to a whole new box of it
> because I just could not stand being faced with dried out and useless
> Oasis. If you soak some and don't use it, or if you want to preseve
> some you have used, you MUST keep it wet!
Once I've got some spare time(!) I'll run a trial on it. My wife has a
box of the stuff she has never used. I'll weigh some a few minutes
after immersing and draining, let it dry (will a month be long enough?)
and immerse, drain, and weigh again. Should give a definitive answer as
to whether or not it will take up water after being allowed to dry.
--
Jeff
David Hill
Sep 11, 2012, 5:58:14 AM9/11/12
to
I've used the stuff for over 30 years and have never been able to re wet
it properly, not even adding a drop of washing up liquid to it,
when still fresh you can sometimes turn it upside down and re use
whilst still wet but you can find air pockets.
When doing dahlia displays at flower shows I could use around 30 blocks
at a time on a large display, the best thing was to sell off the whole
basket of flowers, basket, oasis and all..
Whilst still wet you could try cutting it into smaller blocks and try
rooting cuttings in it.
David @ the sunny but cook end of Swansea bay
Message has been deleted
vi...@dinky.vm.bytemark.co.uk
Sep 11, 2012, 7:02:58 AM9/11/12
to
If anyone wants some dried stuff to play with, I have some in the loft.
I never realised it couldn't be re-wetted, never even occurred to me til
this thread!
> Whilst still wet you could try cutting it into smaller blocks and try
> rooting cuttings in it.
What would you do, plant out the whole block, oasis and all, once the
cutting had taken?
I never realised it couldn't be re-wetted, never even occurred to me til
this thread!
> Whilst still wet you could try cutting it into smaller blocks and try
> rooting cuttings in it.
cutting had taken?
Jeff Layman
Sep 11, 2012, 8:50:29 AM9/11/12
to
On 11/09/2012 11:42, Sacha wrote:
> flower arrangers don't know it won't re-absorb, hence the useless dried
> out lumps (often full of holes) that you find in church vestries,
> carefully stored in boxes! I don't know why but when dried out it
> just floats on top of the water, while 'fresh' Oasis slowly absorbs
> water and sinks, so you always put it into water deeper than itself.
> This may save you some time:
>
> http://sona.oasisfloral.com/faqs/faqs
That's the link I gave in my first post! :-)
(I trimmed my replyto you and cut the link)
--
Jeff
> On 2012-09-11 10:39:44 +0100, Jeff Layman <JMLa...@invalid.invalid> said:
>>
>> Once I've got some spare time(!) I'll run a trial on it. My wife has a
>> box of the stuff she has never used. I'll weigh some a few minutes
>> after immersing and draining, let it dry (will a month be long enough?)
>> and immerse, drain, and weigh again. Should give a definitive answer
>> as to whether or not it will take up water after being allowed to dry.
>
> Huh? If you have a plenty of time on your hands....! ;-) Many amateur
>>
>> Once I've got some spare time(!) I'll run a trial on it. My wife has a
>> box of the stuff she has never used. I'll weigh some a few minutes
>> after immersing and draining, let it dry (will a month be long enough?)
>> and immerse, drain, and weigh again. Should give a definitive answer
>> as to whether or not it will take up water after being allowed to dry.
>
> flower arrangers don't know it won't re-absorb, hence the useless dried
> out lumps (often full of holes) that you find in church vestries,
> carefully stored in boxes! I don't know why but when dried out it
> just floats on top of the water, while 'fresh' Oasis slowly absorbs
> water and sinks, so you always put it into water deeper than itself.
> This may save you some time:
>
> http://sona.oasisfloral.com/faqs/faqs
That's the link I gave in my first post! :-)
(I trimmed my replyto you and cut the link)
--
Jeff
David Hill
Sep 11, 2012, 11:36:47 AM9/11/12
to
deep, when roots are poking out pot the whole thing on and grow on as
normal.
vi...@dinky.vm.bytemark.co.uk
Sep 11, 2012, 5:21:50 PM9/11/12
to
David Hill <da...@abacus-nurseries.co.uk> wrote:
>> What would you do, plant out the whole block, oasis and all, once the
>> cutting had taken?
>>
> I suppose I should have said SMALL blocks about 1" square and 1 1/22
> deep, when roots are poking out pot the whole thing on and grow on as
> normal.
Yeah, that's kind of what I was picturing. Just wondering if the oasis
>> What would you do, plant out the whole block, oasis and all, once the
>> cutting had taken?
>>
> I suppose I should have said SMALL blocks about 1" square and 1 1/22
> deep, when roots are poking out pot the whole thing on and grow on as
> normal.
stuff being in contact with the cutting might cause rotting due to it
being continuously wet
marjorie...@gmail.com
Jun 28, 2018, 6:56:21 AM6/28/18
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