How to Dry Flowers: Preserve the Color and Beauty

Dried flowers have a special quality all their own, lending a certain elegance to any decor. To dry flowers, you need very little expertise and little or no special equipment. Drying flowers is really very simple. When drying flowers, attention to a few simple details will ensure that your dried flowers are preserved for a long, long time.

There are two ways to successfully dry flowers: hanging and drying, and drying in silica gel. Either way, the objective is to remove moisture from the blossoms without significantly altering shape or color.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fresh flowers in bud or peak of bloom.
• Either a dark, hot location or a container of silica gel

1. CHOOSE FLOWERS THAT ARE IN GOOD CONDITION
   
   If your flowers are already beginning to shatter, they are not good candidates for drying. But fresh buds and blossoms work very well.

2. HANG AND DRY
   
   Choose a hot, well ventilated area. Many flowers can be dried by the hang and dry method. A hot attic, or other well-ventilated dark area will quickly dessicate your blossoms.
   
   Hang fresh buds and blossoms in small bunches, 3-10 stems, fastened with a rubber band, and hung upside down to dry.
   
   Flowers that dry well by the hang and dry method are: rosebuds, zinnias, blue salvia, tansy, celosia (cockscomb), artemesias and yarrow.

3. or, DRY IN SILICA GEL
   
   Dry your flowers with silica gel if your flowers are more open and delicate. Silica gel is the stuff that you find in little packets packed inside items that you purchase, to prevent moisture damage. Silica gel can be found in craft and hobby shops or sections of your local superstore.
   
   Flowers that can be successfully dried with silica gel are: open roses, peonies, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, and many others. If in doubt, give it a try. You have nothing to lose.

4. CUT STEMS OF FLOWERS SHORT
   
   When drying flowers with silica gel, cut stems to 1 1/2 to 2 inches long.

5. COVER BOTTOM OF CONTAINER WITH SILICA GEL
   
   Pour approximately 1 - 2 inches of silica gel into the bottom of a tin or plastic container that can be sealed tightly.

6. PLACE FLOWERS IN SILICA GEL
   
   Place blossoms in the silica gel with approximatley an inch of space between them.

7. SIFT SILICA GEL IN AND AROUND FLOWERS
   
   Gently sift silica gel in and around blossoms, being careful not to distort the shape of the flowers.
   
   Make certain blossoms are thoroughly covered.
   
   Cover the container with a tight-fitting lid.

8. CHECK BLOSSOMS FOR DRYNESS
   
   Check your blossoms in approximately 3-7 days. By digging your finger into the silica gel and touching the side of a blossom, you will be able to tell if the petals have become brittle or if they are still wet.
   
   Leave blossoms until they are completely dry to the touch.
   
   Remove dried flowers carefully and store in well ventilated area.

Tips & Warnings

• Store silica gel in a tightly covered tin.
• Warm silica gel in the oven in a shallow baking pan until the silica gel is warm to the touch, but not hot, for faster drying of flowers.
• Preserved flowers can be sprayed with hair spray--a good strong lacquer type--to seal out moisture.

Resources

• Low Prices on Silica Gel
• Flower Arranging

[godfather25]

on 10/20/2009 GReat article on drying flowers.

[ourlastchance]

on 10/12/2009 I love the look of dried flowers. I usually use silica gel to dry my flowers. Thanks for writing an article on this great topic.

[martielownberry]

on 9/24/2009 really great article. I will have to try the silica gel.

[maureenw59]

on 9/15/2009 An excellent article on a garden topic. 5*

[langleycornwell]

on 6/23/2009 I've done the 'hang and dry' but never tried silica gel. Thanks for the instructions.