How to Dry Flowers

Dried flowers are wonderful for year-round floral arrangements. You can dry flowers by hanging them or by placing them in a box of desiccant, which better preserves the blossoms.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boxes
• Fine Sand
• Fresh-cut Flowers
• Gardening Gloves
• Pruning Shears
• Fine Sand
• Pruning Shears
• Rubber Bands
• Rubber Bands
• Silica Gel Packs
• String
• Rubber bands
• Boxes

Box Method

1. Line a box with fine, dry sand, borax or silica gel.

2. Place the whole heads of the flowers face down in the box. Dahlias, roses and zinnias dry well using this method.

3. Sift more sand or borax onto the flower heads until they are covered.

4. Place the box in a warm, dry area for two weeks.

Air-Dry Method

5. 

   Pick flowers when their blossoms are half-open, and leave the flowers on their stems.

6. 

   Strip the lower leaves from the stems; don't remove the leaves closest to the flower on the stem.

7. 

   Gather 8 to 10 stems together, and tie them with string or secure them with rubber bands.

8. Hang the bundle upside down in a well-ventilated area. After 10 days (in warm weather), the flowers should be dry. When drying multiple bundles of flowers, leave space between them to ensure thorough drying.

[lilolladystuff]

on 6/8/2009 Great photos and article. Thanks.

[denisepapas]

on 4/28/2009 I love the photos - they really helped the descriptions. I always wanted to know how to do this and never knew it was so easy!

[ecm1980]

on 4/17/2009 I have never heard of using sand to dry them out. Very good idea. I might try that.

[eggerist]

on 3/24/2009 I prefer not to use silica gel but fresh air...

[blj7150]

on 2/18/2009 I have a huge flower bed with many diffrent flowers from spring to late fall. This will be a fun project