“Lentils and mung beans sprout and grow roots into the floral foam anchoring these innovatively conceptual holiday compositions.”
Did you know that floral foam was originally used – and still is, in some instances – as a hydroponic growing medium? It was used for starting seeds, cuttings and transplants because it can hold moisture while offering a firm structure. For example, as a substrate, floral foam allows beds of lentils and mung beans to sprout and grow roots. I’ve incorporated that concept into these Valentine’s Day floral designs. What do you think about designing in a vital living surface?
Sprouting Foam – Mung Beans
I designed this Valentine’s Day composition by inserting flower stems into both water tubes and mung-bean-covered floral foam. The flower stems are threaded through a circular “tatami” structure that I created with flat wire. The wire structure keeps the blooms floating over the vital living layer of mung-bean sprouts, and the rooting beans secure the stem insertions.
Valentine Graffiti
In this design, the container is filled with floral foam 2 inches below the rim, and the surface of the floral foam is covered with lentils. The floral foam enables the lentils to sprout and grow roots into the foam. I formed a tube of wire mesh and placed it atop the rim of the container, creating a structure for the flower stems to be inserted through and into fl oral foam below. This allows for an airy, transparent design showcasing the Valentine heart “graffiti,” which I created with rattan sticks wrapped with wire and covered with yarn. Economy of means is implemented through these mechanics: the lentils allowing for a quick covering of the floral foam, and the wire mesh enabling the airy placement of flower stems and blooms. Less is more!
Valentine Hearts in Lentil Sprouts
A repetition of heart motifs drives home the Valentine’s Day theme in this design. I arranged the flowers in a heart formation, coupled with Midollino extender heart shapes. Flower stem insertions are made directly into foam through the “carpet” of sprouting lentils. The lentil roots naturally help break down the thin layer of floral foam.
