How to Dry a Flower Wreath
Dried flowers give wreaths a delicate, yet colorful, appearance. Large, full flowers and sprays of multiple small flowers look best on a wreath. Roses, sprays of baby's breath and mums are just a few choices. Drying the flowers so they retain their shape and color, while preparing them for wreath-making, requires some time but not a lot of effort or expertise. Dry fresh flowers when they are at their peak bloom. Petal imperfections become more obvious after drying, so only choose the best-looking flowers for wreath-making.
Instructions
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1
Trim the stem of the fresh flowers with shears. Leave between 1/2 inch and 1 inch of stem attached to the back of the flower.
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2
Bend an 8-inch length of floral wire in half to make a U-shape. Push the ends of the wire through the center of the flower until the bend of the U is hidden inside the petals and the wire ends stick out from the back of the flower. Bend the ends of the wire down so the flower can lay reasonably flat.
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3
Fill a plastic container or shoe box with 2 inches of silica gel crystals. Set the flowers in the silica facing up. Leave 2 inches of space between each flower.
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Add more silica crystals to the box until the flowers are completely submerged. Cover the box with a lid.
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5
Check the flowers once a week for dryness. The flowers are ready to use once they are completely dried and brittle. Most flowers take between one and three weeks to dry completely.
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Lift the flowers gently from the silica to avoid damage. Turn the flowers upside-down and tap the back so any silica between the petals falls out.
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Attach each flower to a floral pick using the wire attached to the back. Use unwired floral picks and wrap the wire from the flower around the top of the pick until the pick sits tightly against the back of the flower.
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Lay the flowers on top the wreath form and arrange them into the desired display. Insert the floral picks into the wreath form, securing the flowers in place, once you are satisfied with the design.
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Tips & Warnings
Spray the flowers with a clear acrylic sealant to protect them from moisture and premature aging. Display dried flower wreathes indoors where they won't be exposed to direct sunlight or moisture.
