5 Perfect Ways to Dry and Preserve a Bouquet

5 PERFECT WAYS TO DRY AND PRESERVE A BOUQUET

By Anna Green April 27, 2020

Flowers are perishable and can't stay fresh forever, and one perfect way to preserve the beauty of your blossoms is by drying them. Dry blooms are widely used as forever bouquets or for other decoration purposes. There are several steps you can follow in drying flowers and these are listed below.

Step-By-Step Guide on Drying Flowers

There are several ways on how to dry flowers. Below are detailed step-by-step guides to drying and preserving your flowers.

1. Dry flowers by pressing

Drying flowers by pressing is an easy preservation method. Note: this flower drying process might take up to a month for the flower petals to get thoroughly dry.

Choose flowers that are small and flat. Ensure that those flowers are not completely open.
Place each flat flower between two sheets of dry paper; let the flower get sandwiched between the pages of a large book, such as an encyclopedia or dictionary.
Wait for one to three weeks. After the first week, remove the blooms and replace the paper with new dry sheets. Then return the flowers under the books to continue pressing.
After three weeks, remove the flowers. Your flowers will be transparent, thin and dry.

2. Air dry flowers

This is a classic technique to dry flowers where you hang your flowers upside down. When air hits the flowers, moisture escapes, and the dehydration process occurs. Below are the steps.

Pick flowers which are beginning to open; they are the best for air-drying. The flowers should be small and sturdy, i.e. lavender or larkspur.
Prepare your flowers in bunches consisting of 10 flowers of a single type. Tie the bunches tightly so that when the stems dry and shrink they will remain tightly tied.
Hang the bunches upside-down. Choose a warm, dark and dry place to prevent rotting and fading. you can hang flowers from nails, hooks or hangers.
The distance between the flowers bunches should be at least 15 cm to allow proper air circulation. Air circulation will help in drying your flowers and prevent mold growth.
Leave the blooms for two to four weeks and check on their progress regularly. When your flowers are dry, you can use hairspray to spritz. This way they won't crumble too easily.

3. Dry flowers with a microwave

Microwaving is best for blooms with many petals, no hair, and are less sticky. In this drying process, you will require silica gel that is available in stores. The following are steps on how to preserve flowers using a microwave:

Choose flowers that are half-open and those with firm petals.
Get a microwave-safe container to hold your flowers in the microwave.
Pour silica gel 1-2 inches on the microwave-safe container, then place the flowers on the container. Afterward, pour more gel on the petals but remember to pour it gently to avoid flattening of the petals.
Place the container in the microwave then start the microwave. The temperature of the microwave will range according to the type of flower (some flowers withstand more heat than others).
Check the progress of the flowers after a couple of minutes then increase heat as time goes.
Once flowers dry, remove the container from the microwave. Cover the container and leave the jar slightly opened for 24 hours.
Clean off the gel from the petals using a brush and then spray your flowers using acrylic spray.
Once the process is completed, you can use your flowers for decoration or other purposes because they will be thoroughly dry and ready to serve you for an extended time.

4. Dry flowers in a convection oven

Using a convection oven can also be an ideal answer to how to dry flowers. Let's dive in and check the detailed steps.

Prepare your flowers and place them on a wire mesh. Slide the stem into the mesh so that the step will remain under the mesh and your flowers at the top.
Heat the flowers at a low temperature for several hours. The time taken to dry will vary depending on the type of flowers you intend to dry.
Once the flowers have dried up, remove them from the oven and let the temperature cool down before handling them. Get some hairspray and spray it on the flowers to ensure longevity.

5. Dry flowers with silica gel

Silica gel is a sand-like substance found in stores and can be used to preserve flowers. It works best with sturdy flowers such as roses or zinnias. Silica gel is made up of silicon dioxide (a component of sand) which makes it absorb moisture faster. When using this method, you will require an air-tight flat-bottomed container, i.e., jars or Tupperware.

Pour silica gel on the container sufficient to fill it two inches.
Add flowers, then add more gel on top making sure it gets between the petals. Leave it for some days.
Ensure you check up on the flowers every two days until they dry.
Once dry, remove the flowers and brush off the gel.

The Final Word

In summary, dried flowers are beautiful for decoration. However, when using the tips above on how to dry flowers, remember that dried flowers fade faster when subjected to direct sunlight or heat. For that reason ensure you keep them in cool and dry places away from windows.