You may preserve your favorite blossoms for as long as you want to keep them when you dry them. Dried flowers not only survive longer but they may also be used to spruce up your house. Dried flowers are the solution, whether you want to use them to fill your mantle with dried roses, make arrangements to hang in your bedroom, or fill your house with the aroma of potpourri.
We've provided a guide that explains how to dry flowers in different methods to get you started.
What's the Procedure for Flower Drying?
Flowers can be dried using various methods, but all methods gradually and uniformly remove moisture from flowers while maintaining the flowers' color and condition. These are five techniques for flower drying.
Air Drying
Air drying is the oldest technique to dry flowers. You knot many little bouquets and hang them upside down to allow the flowers to air dry. Since flowers require time to dry without an accelerant completely, this approach takes two to four weeks to finish. Making dried bouquets for table centerpieces or accent pieces throughout your house is wonderful for air drying.
By hanging your blossoms, the air-drying approach allows nature to do all the work. There are the best flowers to dry, like roses, lavender, etc. This is the least costly and time-consuming way, although depending on the bloom, it may take several weeks. When your flowers are dry to the touch and have begun to fade and shrivel in color, they are ready.
Remember that some petals and leaves on your dry flowers may crumple or fall as you arrange them. Before you begin, visualize your arrangement and remember how delicate the flowers are. Misting your dried flowers with hairspray to preserve their beauty and delay fading.
Microwaving
To assist in drying the plant without it fading, microwave your blooms in a dish of desiccant (such as cat litter or silica gel). The microwave approach works best for flower heads or smaller plants, not large bouquets, and you may witness the benefits in days instead of weeks. The quickest way is to dry flowers in a microwave; it takes minutes instead of weeks. You'll need the following to microwave-dry flowers:
Trim the flower's stems to fit the container and remove unnecessary foliage. Place 1-2 inches of the silica gel in the container's bottom. You'll need a little extra if you're drying a bigger bloom. After positioning the flower bud upright, lightly cover it with more gel. Make sure the flowers you add are the same type if you add more than one. Otherwise, you run the danger of burning them since they will dry at different speeds.
Depending on the flower, different microwave times and temperatures will apply. We advise beginning with intervals of one to two minutes. Continue microwaving the flowers if you find that they are still wet. After completely drying the flowers, you must cover half of the container and allow it to cool for a full day.
Desiccant Method
To extract moisture from flowers, place them on a desiccant bed (such as silica gel or cat litter) and let them there for a few weeks. Although it takes longer, this approach better retains the color of your flowers than microwaving them.
Because silica gel absorbs and retains water, it is a common ingredient in packaged goods and is ideal for drying flowers. Drying flowers using silica gel is the greatest technique and produces the most realistic-looking blooms. It is customary to utilize a range of fresh, single, fully blooming flowers in this method.
Put on a protective mask and gloves before attempting this procedure to keep the non-toxic silica gel dust out of your lungs and to stop yourself from scrubbing the gel off your hands. There are two ways to dry your flowers using the silica gel method: a microwave or not. Using your microwave to dry and arrange your flowers will work faster if you're in a hurry. If not, you can wait for your flowers to be ready before handling them.
Baking entails placing your flowers in a low-temperature oven and leaving them to dry for a few hours. Flowers may be dried quickly with this approach, although many petals may be lost. Furthermore, this technique could be better for keeping your flowers' color. Dried flowers may be achieved quickly and simply by baking them in a regular oven. The oven might cause your flowers to lose color or petals; if you're preparing potpourri, this is the ideal option.
Remove leftover leaves from your flowers since the foliage might not dry completely in the oven. Arrange them on a baking rack set above a cookie sheet. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and bake your blossoms for around two hours. After an hour, check on your blooms. You can take them out if they are fading. Your flowers are ready to use after they have cooled.
Pressing
Pressing is the process of removing moisture from flowers by pressing them between heavy surfaces. Pressing helps dry flowers for stationery, crafts, or artwork. One ancient method of flower preservation is pressing. Aspiring botanists and flower enthusiasts have used this approach for generations since it is easy to use and quick.
Depending on the supplies you have on hand and the quantity of flowers you need to preserve, there are several methods for pressing flowers. Make your flower press or buy one if you press many flowers. If not, all you need to do is use a thick book. Pressed flowers are ideal for creating DIY botanical prints or as a card embellishment.
Conclusion
Drying flowers may be an easy, enjoyable to make lovely, enduring décor or a kind present. How long do dried flowers last? Pressing flowers is the finest method for rapidly and easily drying flowers for crafts. Air-drying flowers is the best option for a more elaborate and lush bouquet or arrangement, but it does take some time. The silica gel process is a more sophisticated way to achieve the most lifelike dried blossoms.