My switch from foam to chicken wire for big installs saved my back and my budget

For years I used those green floral foam blocks for every big wedding arch or wall piece. I'd go through maybe 20 blocks for one arch, costing over $100 just in foam, and the thing would weigh a ton. Last summer, after a huge hotel lobby job left me with a sore back for a week, I tried using chicken wire instead. I shape the wire, zip tie it to the frame, and soak my stems in water tubes before wiring them in. The whole structure is lighter, I use way less water, and the flowers actually last longer because they aren't sitting in soggy, broken-down foam. Has anyone else made this switch and found a good source for bulk water tubes?

3 comments

3 Comments

dakota_rivera15d agoMost Upvoted

Foam is way more reliable for big jobs though. Chicken wire can sag if you're doing a heavy install with lots of blooms. I've had a whole section droop on a hot day because the wire just gave out. Foam holds the shape perfectly from start to finish. The water tubes also add a ton of prep time for each stem, which eats into any cost savings. For a fast setup, pre-soaked foam is still the better choice.

lisa_jones219d ago

Remember when zip ties were just for bundling cables?

lisa_murray15d ago

My last arch with foam took 18 blocks and still collapsed in the heat. Chicken wire with zip ties has never failed me. The key is double layering the wire for heavy flowers like hydrangeas. Those little water tubes are a pain to prep, but the stems drink better and the whole piece is fifty pounds lighter to move. I get my tubes from a medical supply website in boxes of five hundred.