A kenzan is a small, heavy block covered in upright pins, which comes from Japanese flower arranging. It sits at the bottom of a shallow vase filled with water and the stems are pushed between the pins. Together with chicken wire shaped inside vases and structures, it is one of the main tools for designers who work without floral foam.
It has two advantages: it can be reused for years and it keeps the flowers in water, which helps hydration even in summer. It does limit some shapes that reach far out. The guide to sustainable wedding flowers compares it with other techniques; the one on the summer wedding explains why water matters in the heat; at flower arranging workshops it is often among the tools provided.
What to ask: which foam-free techniques your flower designer uses, and for which pieces.
