How to Use Glycerine to Preserve Flowers & Foliage
The bloom of even the hardiest plant tends to wither too soon. Drying flowers and their surrounding foliage enables you to enjoy their beauty all year long. One of the simplest ways to dry botanicals is through the application of drying agents like glycerine. Glycerine removes the moisture from the plant material quickly, allowing flowers to retain their original shape and pliability.
Things You'll Need
- Freshly cut botanicals
- Garden cutters
- Utility knife
- Container of warm water
- Glycerine
- Tall container
Instructions
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1
Cut blossoms and foliage on a sunny day. Head out in the morning, before the flowers are fully opened. Select fully mature growth for the best results.
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2
Cut at an angle slightly further down the stem. Cut enough to allow for 4 inches of unnecessary stem or branch to work with. Remove any additional leaves or branches and wipe away any moisture created by this process. Also, remove any damaged, bruised, cut or blemished plant tissues as these will be even more obvious once the glycerine solution has been applied.
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3
Use a utility knife or paring knife to split the stems at the bottom, cutting in an upward direction approximately 1 inch. Place the cut stems into a container filled with warm water and leave them for three to four hours.
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4
Combine one cup of glycerine and 2 cups of boiling water. Mix until thoroughly combined. In a container which is tall enough to hold the foliage upright, pour approximately 3 inches of glycerine solution.
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5
Set the solution aside and allow it to cool. Once the glycerine has reached room temperature, remove the foliage from the water and transfer it to the glycerine. Move the container to a cool, dark area where it is out of danger of being knocked over.
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6
Visually assess the flowers once a week for the next eight weeks. Wipe any visible leaves with a soft cloth that has been soaked in glycerine solution and check the color of the bouquet. The plant material has been successfully and completely preserved once all of the leaves have changed color.
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Tips & Warnings
Glycerine is much more effective on foliage, such as ornamental grasses and evergreens, than it is on flowers. There are a few flowers like hydrangea, the delphinium and the nigella which respond well to glycerine treatment. Try a handful of your favorites to determine whether or not you like the result before attempting a large batch of flowers.
