Drying flowers – tips everyone needs to know

While fresh flowers last for a couple of weeks in a vase, dried flowers can look great for years. The key is to make sure that you choose the right blooms and use the right method for drying flowers. Dried blooms will require some care and maintenance but it is always worth the effort.

Best types of flowers for drying

Before you begin, you need to know which blooms will dry best. The last thing you want is to dry them out only to have the blooms fall apart. Some of the best blooms include:

• Cornflowers
• Lavender
• Roses
• Statice
• Larkspur
• Globe thistle

Air drying method

Drying flowers using this method is the easiest of all. You don’t need too many supplies but you will need a little patience. Make small bunches of flowers and secure the stems together using elastic bands. Make sure that you wrap them together tightly because they will shrink as the stems dry out. Hang them upside down in a place where they will not be affected by wind, humidity or direct sunlight. Wait for about two weeks to see results. Once your flowers are fully dried, you can display them or store them for future use.

Silica gel flower drying

If you have some particularly fragile flowers that hold a lot of moisture, you will find this method to be the best. Spread about one inch of silica gel evenly in an airtight glass or plastic container. Place the flowers on top of the silica gel and gently cover the flowers with more silica gel. Seal the container and let it stand for three to five days before checking on it. If the flowers are not yet completely dry, cover them again and allow another three to five days to pass. Remove the flowers once they are completely dry.

Use your microwave for drying flowers

If you want to speed things up, you can use your microwave. You will need to follow the same steps as mentioned in the silica gel method. Only this time, you need to microwave the container for about three minutes. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes before opening the container. Check on the flowers to see if they are dry. If not, repeat this process.

Maintaining dried flowers

Once you are done drying flowers, you will need to make sure that they are properly cared for. Make sure that they are not exposed to wind, heat or direct sunlight. If you wish to store them, make sure that you wrap them in newspaper to keep moisture at bay. You should also place them in a sturdy box or container so that they don’t get crushed. Store in a dark, dry place until you are ready to use them.

Drying flowers is not only fun, but it can be extremely rewarding too. These methods can also help you preserve meaningful arrangements like your wedding bouquet, for example. You can place the bouquet in a box frame to protect it for many years.