Nowadays, floral designers, florists and decorators use more and more preserved flowers and foliages in their floral arrangements and decor, as an alternative to fresh or dried flowers.
Preserved flowers offer the elegance and charm of fresh flowers without the need for constant maintenance.
What are preserved flowers and foliages?
Preserved flowers and foliages are natural plants that have been treated with a glycerin-based solution, to make them last for several months or even years, according to the type of flower, leaf or plant.
They maintain their natural appearance and suppleness without any need for water, direct light or maintenance.
Our preservation or stabilisation process consists of treating fresh flowers and foliages with a mixture of glycerin, dyes, and other chemicals that replace the natural saps of the plants.
Thanks to this treatment the flowers and foliages will maintain their natural appearance and suppleness for a long time, without water and sunlight. They need no maintenance.
The science behind flower preservation
Before starting the preservation or stabilisation process, we select the best flowers and foliages, trim and grade them.
We place them in a solution of water, glycerin and some other additives.
During the preservation process, the plants take up the glycerin solution and replace gradually their natural saps, thus ensuring that the plant will keep its suppleness after the treatment.
We add dyes to either maintain the natural colour of the flowers and foliages, or give them a new colour of choice.
Preserved flowers offer a sustainable alternative to fresh flowers and help minimising waste. Thanks to heir long lifespan fewer replacements are needed, thus reducing the environmental footprint.
The history of flower preservation
The practice of preserving flowers has ancient origins. Initially, techniques like air drying and pressing were employed for centuries to create art. These methods have been used for centuries, often producing brittle and faded flowers, which did not retain the natural beauty of fresh flowers.
It was only at the beginning of the 1980’s that we, at Vermont Flowers, in collaboration with scientists, developed the modern, refined process of stabilising flowers, using glycerin as the main substance, to retain de natural flexibility of the flowers and greenery.
Today we produce high-quality preserved flowers and foliages at our farms and production units in Kenya and export them worldwide. They are used by floral designers, florists, architects and green wall designers and landscapers, to create long-lasting floral bouquets, home decor pieces, wedding bouquets, trees, backdrops and green walls.
Why choose preserved flowers and foliages?
There are several reasons why floral designers, florists and individuals choose increasingly preserved flowers over fresh or dried ones. Preserved flowers keep the suppleness and appearance of fresh flowers, without any need of water, light or maintenance.
The advantages of preserved flowers and foliages :
- Long-lasting: If kept indoors, out of humidity and direct light, preserved flowers and foliages last several months or even years, and become thus a cos-effective option
- Low maintenance: Preserved flowers do not require water, direct light or special care.
- Sustainability: Preserved flowers reduce waste and are more eco-friendly.
- Versatility: Preserved flowers and foliages are available in a wide range of colours, sizes and styles, and can thus be used in many different applications.
In short, preserved flowers and foliages maintain the beauty of nature, while having a lot of advantages compared to fresh cut flowers, dried and artificial flowers and plants.
Additionally, their eco-friendly and sustainable nature make them a preferred choice in today’s floral design and floral home decor.
Check out our selection of preserved flowers and foliages and discover how they can provide both beauty and sustainability in your arrangements.
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