Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hi
HELP!!
I’ve read a previous question regarding drooping flowers made from flowerpaste, and I’ve recently had this problem during a very humid spell of weather, unfortunately just prior to a wedding fayre – I ended up having to replace some flowers more than once. I’ve since stored my dummy cakes in a cupboard well away from a radiator in open cardboard boxes with silicon sachets in the boxes, but have still had problems with drooping. Does anyone know of some way of preventing the moisture absorption, i.e. is there a spray/coating that might help, or is there another flowerpaste that anyone knows of that doesn’t have this problem (I use Piece of Cake flowerpaste)?
Many thanks.

I find Squire’s Kitchen florist paste best drying. I’ve tried Renshaws and have had big problems with it. You could try placing a small container of uncooked rice in along with your pieces, rice does absorb moisture to a certain extent.
Confectioner’s glaze can help to protect from humidity but unfortunately not suitable if you want your flowers to have a matt finish. I never seem to have any problems once the central heating goes on in the winter, just in the summer months and this time of year when it’s so damp. I think storing in a place where the temperature is constant could help.

hi, I live in Spain and had the very same problems with flowers, no matter what paste I used. I thought they may have the same trouble in Australia, so I posted a question on an Aussie website. I had 7 answers all saying roughly the same thing – PAMPERS NAPPIES! It seems they have a sillicant gel base which absorbs moisture. I line the bottom of the boxes for my completed flowers with them now, and touch wood, I have never had any more problems, no matter how humid it is. Hope that helps,
Ann

Hi guys
Thanks for your suggestions – I’ll try the Squires paste when I make some more, and add uncooked rice as well as the silica gel I’ve already used. As you say now the heating is on here, that should help. As the flowers are all fixed onto dummy cakes, it’s difficult to seal them fully from humidity – I covered the top of the boxes loosely with clingfilm, more to keep dust off the cakes. I wasn’t sure if I tried to seal them properly that they wouldn’t end up sweating and spoiling.
Many thanks, SuzyQ

I think you’re right, clingfilm will probably make them sweat, could get a build up of condensation inside, after all we keep paste in plastic bags to stop it drying out. Perhaps tissue paper or kitchen roll might be better just to keep the dust off. Good luck with them.

Thanks for your help – although the clingfilm is only loosely draped, I think I will change it to tissue paper as it might help again with absorbing moisture.
Many thanks for your advice 🙂