How to Dry a Bouquet of Roses

Choosing to dry a bouquet of roses is easier than you may think. If you want to preserve a wedding bouquet of roses, a Valentine’s Day bouquet or even an arrangement from your rose garden, this chemical-free method will dry your roses beautifully.

Things You'll Need

• The bouquet
• Floral wire
• Towel
• Hammer and nail

Instructions

Dry Your Flowers

1. Prepare to dry your bouquet of roses. When you feel that your arrangement only has a few days left of vibrant blooms before wilting sets in, you will need to prepare them for drying .

2. Making a place for your dried bouquet is the next step. In a dim room, you will need to hammer a long nail into the wall. Your bouquet will hang from the nail and dry. Put the nail in a spot where there is ample space so the bouquet has room and won’t be flattened.

3. Remove your bouquet of roses from their vase of water while the blooms are still robust. With one hand, carefully hold the bouquet just under the heads of the flowers, and towel dry the stems.

4. Holding the bouquet, carefully twist floral wire around the stems to hold the bouquet together. The stems need to be secured, since they will shrink as they dry.

5. Gently invert the bouquet so the blooms are facing the floor and the stems are facing the ceiling. This will help the blooms stay full and round while drying.

6. Use a second piece of floral wire to make a loop hanger. Thread it through the floral wire securing the stems and make a loop on the exposed end.

7. Take the bouquet of roses to the room where you will dry them and allow them to hang inverted from the nail. Depending on the humidity in your home, it will take a few weeks for the bouquet of roses to completely dry. By hanging them upside down, the blooms will retain their original shape.

8. Remove the bouquet of roses once the bouquet it fully dry. Remove the hanging loop and place the bouquet in a dry vase or shadow box for display.

Tips & Warnings

• Your dried bouquet of roses will be fragile. When transporting the dried bouquet, be very careful.

• Keep the bouquet of roses away from pets while it is drying. The natural smell may entice them to sniff your project, causing some blooms to be damaged.