How to Dry Hydrangea Flowers

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Large, colorful hydrangeas are impressive in the garden and even more so when they have been dried and preserved. The trick to preserving these lush blooms is cutting them at just the right time. Follow these steps to create dry flowers ideal for decorations and more.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Garden Shears
Glue Guns
Vases
Spray Paints
Craft Wire

Step1

Look closely at the hydrangea flower heads toward the end of the blooming season. There are actually two types of flowers on each head. You will see that the larger flowers have a tiny flower on top.

Step2

Wait until the tiny flowers on top have almost opened. The color will just have begun to fade. This is the prime time to cut them.

Step3

Cut stems at least 12 to 18 inches down from the base of the flowers.

Step4

Remove any leaves from the stems.

Step5

Place the cut flowers into a deep vase filled with clear, fresh water. The stems should submerged at least half way.

Step6

Place the vase in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight. You can enjoy the flowers during the drying process.

Step7

Allow the water to evaporate naturally from the vase. Once the water is completely gone, your hydrangeas should be dry and ready to use for floral decorations or craft projects.

Tips & Warnings

You can spray paint the flowers once they have dried if you want to change or enhance the color.
Cut the dried hydrangeas into smaller segments to use in craft projects.
Wire the small segments onto dry twigs or branches, or use a hot glue gun to attach them to floral arrangements.