How to Preserve Flowers With Glycerin

Nothing is quite as beautiful as a fresh flower, but a well-preserved one comes very close. Many people long to preserve flowers that hold special memories, whether they are from a wedding bouquet or from another special event. One of the best ways to preserve flowers is with glycerin. According to the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, the use of glycerin to preserve flowers keeps the flower product soft. The dried flower will stay pliable for years, unlike when it is simply air-dried and can become brittle. Try preserving flowers with glycerin and see the difference.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tall, narrow vase or container Glycerin Warm water Citric acid powder Large glass or plastic mixing bowl Kitchen scale Empty gallon jug

1. 
    
   Tall, narrow container

   Select a tall container for the flowers to stand in when absorbing the glycerin. The container can be glass or plastic, but not metal. When you place the stems in the container, you will want enough room for the stems not to be pushed together.

2. Put 2 1/2 cups of warm water into the mixing bowl. Slowly add 1 cup of the glycerin, and stir continually while adding. Continue to stir and add 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid powder. Stir until all are thoroughly blended and dissolved.

3. Place the stalks you wish to dry on the kitchen scale and weigh them. Whatever your stems weigh, place that same amount of the preserving liquid in the vase. For example, if your flowers weigh 2 ounces, put 2 ounces of glycerin liquid in the bottom of the vase. Be sure that the bottoms of the stems are all in the solution and that there is adequate space between the stems and flowers for air flow.

4. Set the flowers in a warm, airy location, and leave alone until the glycerin solution has been absorbed. This can take anywhere from three to seven days.

5. Remove the stems from the vase, and place the flowers in another vase in a sunny location with good air circulation. Leave alone for six days.

6. Tie the bottoms of the stems in a bunch, and hang them upside down to dry for three weeks to complete the preservation process. This should also be a sunny location with excellent air circulation.

Tips & Warnings

• When you cut stems for drying, do so in early morning or late evening when temperatures are cool. Some crafters like to put commercial floral dye in the glycerin solution. This is absorbed by the plant and changes the color of it. See a florist or quality craft store for the dye.
• Not all plants and flowers respond the same to being preserved with glycerin. The key is to see which ones work best with it. If you are preserving flowers for a special occasion, experiment with the flower type first.

References

• Preserving Flowers With Glycerin and Dye