How to Save Flowers
Reasons for saving flowers range from planning to use them in crafts to wanting to preserve the memory of a prom or wedding. There are a variety different ways to save flowers, depending on their size, shape and style.Here are three methods to save your flowers. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Easy Ways to Save Your Flowers
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Dry them properly. To prevent mold or rot, all flowers must be dried.
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Air dry the flowers. Make sure you strip any dead leaves which might rot. If the flowers are loose, gather them in small bunches, and rubber band the stems together. Hang upside down in a cool, dry and dark area such as a closet, and allow them to dry for 2 or 3 weeks depending on the thickness of the stems or foliage.
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3
Use silica gel desiccant. Some flowers, such as corsages and wedding bouquets, may be dried using a desiccant such as silica gel to better preserve their natural color and shape. Silica gel is available at garden centers and craft stores. Fill a drying box half full with the gel, place the flowers on it, and then gently cover everything with gel. Place the box in a warm, dry area, and let it sit for 1 to 3 weeks.
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Contact your local florist. Some florists offer drying services when it comes to wedding bouquets, and will take care of properly drying your bouquet and placing it in a memory box for permanent storage.
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Choose what you’re going to do with them. If you plan to use your flowers for craft projects, store them in a cool place in sealable containers or airtight baggies until you’re ready to use them. Those being kept for memories, such as a corsage, should be kept in an airtight box, with a packet of silica gel, and stored in a cool dry place.
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Tips & Warnings
Expect flowers to lose a certain amount of their vibrant colors as they dry. Some stay more colorful than others.
Hanging flowers upside down allows the stems to stiffen and keeps the flowers standing straight.
If you’re using your saved flowers in decorative displays around your home, remember they get dusty like everything else. But because they are brittle, they break easily. Gently puff on them to blow away dust, or place them in front of a small fan on its lowest setting to blow the dust off.
