If you choose to display your Blooms outdoors – and many of us do! – please be aware of some of the consequences.

For one thing, outdoor concrete ages more quickly! Rain and sunshine both break down the concrete sealer. This fades the pigments more quickly. It also allows water to penetrate the sculptures, which promotes cracking.

If you’re comfortable with that aging process – and many of us are! - enjoy your outdoor Blooms. To help them age more gracefully, follow the cleaning and storage regimen below.

Cleaning Outdoor Sculptures

Mix 1 part vinegar with 1 part water. Using a soft old nylon brush – toothbrushes work well – gently scrub the areas that need to be cleaned. Don’t use a wire brush!

Rinse the entire sculpture well with clean water.

Air-dry the sculpture 2-3 days in an area with a temperature of 60 degrees or above.

When thoroughly dry, seal the sculpture with a non-oil based concrete sealer.

Tip: This cleaning process will remove dirt and algae … but will not restore the original color. Enjoy the new, naturally aged beauty of your Blooms!

Bring Blooms in for Winter

After a summer of absorbing moisture from rain and humidity, your Blooms will suffer dramatic consequences if left out for the freeze-and-thaw winter months.

The reasons come straight from your high school physics class: As water freezes, it expands. As it thaws, it contracts. When that water is inside your Bloom, guess what cracks?

So bring your Blooms in for the winter!