Stabilised plant - what is it?

What is plant stabilization?

Stabilized plants are "frozen in time". Living plants are subjected to a conservation process at the moment of their most beautiful flowering, replacing their natural fluids with a special glycerin-based solution. Thanks to this, they remain flexible and durable for many years, preserving a fresh appearance and natural color. Although the stabilization technology was developed quite a while ago, it was only towards the end of the 20th century that the industry became interested in it. Arrangements with stabilized plants entered the market and gained admiration for their appearance and practical advantages. The stabilization process is rather complex and not all species undergo it to the same extent. In professional companies, it consists of four stages:

• Plants collected during their most luxuriant growth are placed in containers filled with a special mixture that causes them to dehydrate.
• When their tissues have been deprived of fluids, they are placed in a tank with the glycerin solution. This is where their natural elasticity and strong structure return.
• The third stage involves imparting the desired color to the stabilized plant using natural dyes.
• Finally, the plants are rinsed to remove any remaining preservative and then dried.

How do dried plants differ from stabilized plants?

Drying plants is a natural process that involves removing water from their tissues. The art lies in preserving their natural, beautiful appearance and color as well as possible. Drying can take place both in the open air and in specialized dryers. Unless flowers are dyed or bleached, this technique is the most environmentally friendly, as no chemical agents are used. Depending on the plant species, however, their colors may lose their intensity. Dried flowers are also very delicate and prone to crumbling. Their undeniable advantage is their low price.

Plant stabilization, the process of replacing fluids in tissues with a preservative substance, is a much more modern technique than traditional drying. It's a complex technology, which is why specialized companies deal with it. Therefore, it's no wonder that stabilized plants have higher prices than common dried flowers. However, flowers preserved in this way are characterized by flexibility, do not crumble, and retain all the physical attributes of live plants. Typically, after the addition of a dye, they also have a natural, intense color.

Stabilized Plants - Why Should You Be Interested in Them?

In this section, we'll try to list all the most important advantages of having compositions made from stabilized plants in your home. Here they are:

• Stabilized plants present beautifully as they are collected at the right moment of their life. Only the most beautiful specimens are chosen for stabilization. This way, you receive a plant that looks great, is beautiful, and has blossomed. You don't have to wait for it to bloom, and then worry that it will wither soon. You receive a perfect product, almost frozen in its perfect moment, that will delight you with its unchanging beauty for many years.
• They don't require care. A stabilized plant looks just like a natural one, but you don't need to perform any procedures for it. So, there's no need for fertilizing, watering, pruning, treating, or exposing to light. You don't even have to clean up fallen leaves. You can go on a several-week vacation and not think about it, yet the stabilized plant will wait for your return as beautiful as ever.
• They never die. Stabilization is a process that somehow stops the plants in time. They maintain their beautiful and fresh appearance even for decades! To enjoy this advantage, follow a few simple rules:

• Don't expose stabilized plants directly to sunlight,
• Don't water, don't spray, just dust them with a dry brush,
• Maintain the room humidity below 70%, which is not only good for stabilized plants but also for your health.
• They don't attract insects. In potted, windowsill plantations, flies and spiders may settle after a while. Stabilized plants do not provide conditions for insects to live and reproduce. One could say they even discourage them from settling.

Plants Tested by Us

SECCA has been introducing stabilized plants to its product catalog for some time now. The technological process carried out by us achieves a positive effect in the form of floral arrangements made from gypsophila, hydrangea, lunaria, cockscomb, protea, as well as compositions of foliage plants - with eucalyptus, ruscus, ferns, and olive leaves.

We invite you to visit our store!