How to Keep Rose Petals

Preserving rose petals is an effective way of keeping the beauty and scents of favorite rose blossoms for long after they would have withered away on the bush. With only a bit of effort on your part, the rose petals can be laid out to dry without any additional work necessary. Then, when they are dry, you can use them in potpourri, sachets or in other home decorating projects.

Things You'll Need

• Rose petals
• Garden shears
• Window screen

Instructions

1. Harvest rose petals early in the morning when the rose blossoms are fully open and the dew has dried.

2. Clip off the entire rose blossom.

3. Pull the complete rose petals gently from the blossom and place them directly onto the window screen in a single layer.

4. Place the window screen in a protected place that is out of direct sunlight and wind. They must have some indirect air circulating around them to dry them, however.

5. Monitor the drying process. The rose petals are not completely dry until they are crisp enough to snap in two. Do not stop the drying process before this point or the petals may mold.

Tips & Warnings

• The length of time it takes to completely dry the petals depends on the drying environment. If it is especially humid, it will take longer than in dryer conditions.

• Dried rose petals will change to a darker shade of the same color.

References

• How to Keep Rose Petals