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Looking to keep your flowers around longer? Check out our tips on how to dry flowers quickly and efficiently!
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Gather your materials
You will need the following materials to dry your flowers quickly:
-A vase or container of some sort
-A hairdryer on the Cool setting
-Fresh flowers that have not been watered for at least 6 hours
Start by trimming your flowers so that there are about 2 inches of stem remaining. Next, fill your vase or container with lukewarm water. Once your flowers are in the water, turn on your hairdryer to the Cool setting and hold it about 6 inches away from the flowers. Point the nozzle of the hairdryer down into the center of the flower and move it around in a circular motion.
Continue until all of the moisture has evaporated from the flower. You will know when they are done when they feel papery to the touch. Once they are dry, you can either leave them as is or spray them with a light coating of hairspray to help preserve their color.
Prepare your flowers
If you want your flowers to maintain their color and shape, you’ll need to take care when selecting and preparing them. Choose blooms that are just beginning to open, and cut them early in the day when the stems are full of water. You’ll also need to remove any leaves that will be below the waterline in your vase, as these will quickly decay and cause your arrangement to become mushy.
Once you have your flowers arranged how you like them, it’s time to start drying them. There are a few different methods you can use, but one of the quickest and most effective is using a microwave.
Choose your drying method
There are several ways to dry flowers, and the method you choose will depend on the flower, the climate and your personal preferences. Some of the most popular methods for drying flowers include air drying, pressing and using a dehydrator.
Air drying is one of the simplest and most common methods for drying flowers. To air dry your flowers, start by tying them together in small bunches and hanging them upside down in a dark, well-ventilated room. Make sure there is plenty of circulation around the flowers so that they can dry evenly. Depending on the humidity and temperature of your room, it can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks for your flowers to fully dry.
Pressing is another popular drying method, and it works well for delicate flowers that might lose their shape during air drying. To press your flowers, start by gently placing them between two sheets of clean paper. Once all of your flowers are in place, weight down the top sheet of paper with a heavy book or other object so that the flowers are held securely in place. Leave your pressed flowers in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks so that they can fully dehydrate.
If you’re looking for a faster drying method, you can also use a dehydrator. Dehydrators work by blowing warm air over your flowers to remove moisture quickly. You can find dehydrators specifically designed for dried flowers at many kitchen supply stores or online retailers. Follow the instructions that come with your dehydrator to ensure that your flowers are dried properly.
Hang your flowers upside down
To dry your flowers quickly, you’ll need to hang them upside down in a cool, dark place with good air circulation. You can do this by clipping the stems and attaching them to a clothesline or hanger, or by hanging the entire bouquet upside down from a ceiling hook. If you’re hanging your flowers upside down, make sure the blooms don’t touch each other so they can dry evenly.
You can also dry your flowers by placing them in a vase with the stems cut short. Fill the vase with enough silica gel beads to completely cover the blooms, then set it in a cool, dark place. The silica gel will absorb moisture from the flowers and speed up the drying process. Check on your flowers every few days to make sure they’re drying evenly, and replace the silica gel beads if they start to turn blue (this means they’re saturated with moisture).
Another way to dry flowers quickly is to microwave them. Place your flowers on a plate lined with parchment paper, then microwave them on high for 30 seconds. Check on your flowers and repeat the process in 15-second increments until they’re dried to your liking. Be careful not to overcook your flowers, or they’ll turn brown and become brittle.
No matter which drying method you choose, it’s important to keep an eye on your flowers and check on their progress regularly. Drying times will vary depending on the type of flower and its thickness, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and remove them from their drying environment as soon as they’re dry to the touch.
Place your flowers in a dehydrator
If you have a dehydrator, you can use it to dry your flowers quickly. Place the flowers on the dehydrator trays, and set the dehydrator to a low temperature. The exact temperature will depend on your model of dehydrator, so consult your owner’s manual. Run the dehydrator for about 24 hours, or until the flowers are completely dry.
Use a microwave
Drying flowers in a microwave is one of the quickest ways to preserve your flowers. To dry flowers in a microwave, start by hanging the flowers upside down on a clothesline or drying rack. Then, microwave the flowers on high for 30 seconds at a time. Once the flowers are dried, remove them from the microwave and store them in a vase or container.
Lay your flowers between two absorbent towels
This is a quick and easy way to dry your flowers. All you need is a couple of old towels that you don’t mind get flower petals on. Place the towels on a flat surface and then lay your flowers on top of them, making sure that the flowers are not touching each other. You can then roll the towels up, like a burrito, and tie them off with some string or an elastic band. Leave them for 24 hours and then check on your flowers. If they’re not dry yet, simply leave them for another day or two until they are completely dried out.
Press your flowers
There are many ways to dry flowers, but pressing is one of the quickest and most effective methods. Pressed flowers can be used in all sorts of crafts, from greeting cards to scrapbooks, and they’ll last for years. Follow these steps to press your flowers and get started on your next project.
1. Gather your materials. You’ll need some heavy books, absorbent papers (like wax paper or parchment paper), and a flat surface on which to work.
2. Choose your flowers. Flowers with thinner petals will dry more quickly than those with thicker petals. Avoid using wilted or damaged flowers, as they will not press well.
3. Remove the stems from your flowers. Cut them as close to the base of the flower as possible.
4. Place your flower between two sheets of absorbent paper. Make sure that the flower is completely flat and that there are no air bubbles trapped beneath the paper.
5 Close your book over the absorbent paper and weighted object, and set it aside in a cool, dry place for several days or weeks until the flowers are completely dried out and flattened
Store your dried flowers
To keep your flowers looking their best, it’s important to store them properly. Gather a container that’s deep enough to accommodate the length of the stems, and fill it with clean, dry sand. Avoid using soil, which can discolor the petals. Trim the stems so they’re about two inches shorter than the container, then arrange the flowers in the sand. You can add more sand around the outside of the arrangement to cover any exposed stems.
