How to Dry Calendula
Calendula, a member of the daisy family, is an annual bright yellow-orange herb. It is valued as an antiseptic and a healing agent when used on minor skin wounds. It's also been found to have anti-viral properties. Calendula can be dried and put to use in pro-health teas, oils or tinctures. You can easily do this at home--under the right conditions, drying calendula is a simple process. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Pick the calendula blossoms from their stems as soon as they are fully open. You can leave them whole or, if you want speedier drying, pick apart all the petals. It's best to pick the flowers once any dew has dried.
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Lay the calendula on a flat surface like a cookie sheet or mesh rack. Allow some space between each blossom or petal--overcrowding can slow down the drying process.
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Put the calendula on their racks in a place that is dry, warm and not exposed to sun or bright lights. The area should also get good air circulation. You can use a fan or dehumidifier to help create an ideal environment for drying.
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Allow the calendula several days to dry completely. Turn over the blossoms or petals several times a day to let them dry all over.
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Check to make sure that the calendula is completely dry before ending the process. You can do this by folding one of the petals--if it breaks in half rather than bending, it's dry.
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Store dried calendula in a container that will keep as much air out as possible, such as a glass jar or a plastic zip-lock bag. Keep the container in a cool, dry place.
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