Drying flowers is a great way to preserve your memories of special occasions or to enjoy the beauty of flowers that are out of season. Follow these simple tips and your flowers will look beautiful for years to come.
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Gather your materials
To dry your flowers, you will need the following materials: a vase, silica gel, and parchment paper. Silica gel can be found at craft stores or online. You will also need a vase that is tall enough to accommodate the length of your flowers’ stems. Finally, you will need parchment paper to line the bottom of the vase.
Flowers
If you’re growing your own flowers, you can dry them as soon as they bloom. If you’re buying them, wait until they’re slightly past their prime. Avoid using flowers that have been treated with pesticides.
1. Remove any leaves that will fall below the waterline in your vase. Leaves can rot and create bacteria, which will shorten the life of your arrangement.
2. Fill a vase or bucket with cool water and add a teaspoon of bleach. This will help to prevent bacteria from growing in your arrangement.
3. Cut the stems at an angle using sharp shears or a knife. This will help the stems absorb more water so that your flowers will stay hydrated for longer.
4. Immediately place the flowers in the vase or bucket of water and put them in a cool, dark place until they’re fully hydrated (this usually takes about 12 hours).
5. Once the flowers are hydrated, remove them from the water and allow them to air dry for 24 hours before arranging them in a vase or other container
Silica gel
You will need:
-Airtight container
-Silica gel
-Packet of silica gel(3.5gm) per 100g of flowers
Instructions:
1. Place your suitably sized container on a weighing scale and weigh the flowers that you would like to dry.
2. Add 3.5 grams of silica gel for every 100 grams of flowers.
3. Mix the silica gel and flowers together in the container so that all the blooms are coated with gel. You can use a spoon or your hands to do this.
4. Once the flowers are coated, seal the container tightly and store it in a cool, dark place for two weeks to allow the moisture to be drawn out of the flowers by the silica gel.
5. After two weeks, open the container and check on your flowers. If they feel papery and crisp to the touch, they are ready to be used or displayed! If they still feel slightly damp, reseal the container and check again in a few days
Airtight container
To prevent your flowers from drying out, you will need an airtight container. This could be a mason jar, Tupperware, or any type of container that has a seal. If you do not have an airtight container, you can place your flowers in a ziplock bag and then put them in the refrigerator.
Prepare your flowers
Start with freshly cut flowers. If you can, choose blooms that have just been cut and are still crisp. Delicate flowers such as lilies, Stephanotis, and gardenias fare especially well with this method. Avoid using flowers that have been sitting in water for more than a few hours, as they will be more wilted and more difficult to dry.
Cut the stems
To dry flowers, you’ll need to start by cutting the stems. Cut them at an angle so they can more easily absorb water. You’ll also want to make sure you cut them relatively short – about 6 inches is a good length. Once you’ve cut the stems, you can either place them in a vase of water or hang them upside down.
Strip off any leaves
Strip off any leaves that will be below the water line in your vase. These will just rot and create bacteria. You can also remove any spent blossoms, or flowers that are past their prime. These can also contribute to bacteria growth.
Blot the flowers with a paper towel
Carefully blot the flowers with a paper towel to remove any moisture. Place the flowers between two sheets of paper towel and gently press down to absorb as much moisture as possible. Let the flowers air dry for a few minutes before proceeding to the next step.
Dry your flowers
Drying flowers is a great way to preserve your blooms. Here are a few tips on how to dry flowers. Flower drying is a great way to preserve your blooms. The process is simple and only requires a few supplies. You can dry your flowers in a dehydrator, oven, or microwave.
Place the flowers in the container
Place the flowers in the container so that the blooms are not touching one another. It’s important that there is good airflow around the flowers so that they can dry evenly. If you are drying flowers in a vase, consider placing a piece of screen or cheesecloth over the opening of the vase to keep bugs out.
Cover the flowers with silica gel
One way to dry flowers is to cover them with silica gel, which absorbs the moisture from the flowers and prevents them from wilting. To do this, simply cover the flowers with silica gel in a container and seal it tightly. Check on the flowers after a few days to see if they are dry. If they are not, leave them in the silica gel until they are completely dry.
Seal the container
After your flowers are dry, you’ll want to seal them in an airtight container to keep them from drying out any further. You can use a zip-top bag, a canning jar, or even a vacuum-sealed container. Be sure to label your container with the name of the flower and the date it was dried.
Check on your flowers
It’s important to check on your flowers daily, or as often as possible. This will help you determine how long it will take for them to dry. The process of drying flowers is very delicate, so it’s important to be patient and not to rush it.
Wait at least 24 hours
Give newly cut flowers a chance to hydrate and drink before you hang them. This allows the flowers to fill with water and become turgid, or firm. Turgid flowers take up moisture more slowly, so they’ll dry better than wilted flowers.
You can tell if a flower is properly hydrated if the stem is firm to the touch, the leaves are green and perky, and the buds are tight and have not yet bloomed.
Check to see if the flowers are dry
Once you think the flowers are dry, open the container and check to see if they are, in fact, dry. The flowers should feel papery to the touch and be completely rigidity. If they are not, continue checking on them every few hours until they reach the desired dryness.
Replace the silica gel if needed
As your flowers dry, check on them every few days. Take them out of the container and lay them on a paper towel. If the silica gel has absorbed all the moisture it can, it will be hard. Replace it with fresh silica gel, and put the flowers back in the container.
