How to Dry Blue Hydrangea

Drying a blue hydrangea allows you to preserve its delicate beauty, which can then be used in decorations and crafts. Air-drying the blue hydrangea is the simplest form of preservation and consists of hanging the flowers upside down in a cool, dry area until they dry naturally. Air-drying is the easiest way, but its results can vary, and you could be left with wilted-looking blooms. The preferred method of drying blue hydrangeas is with a solution called silica gel. Silica gel can be found at most craft stores and is one of the most effective ways of preserving your blooms.

Things You'll Need

• Blue hydrangea
• Plastic container with lid
• Silica gel
• Light brush

Instructions

1. Remove all the leaves from the stem. Hydrangea leaves do not preserve well, so it is best to remove all of them. Cut the stem down to the correct size so it will fit into a plastic container.

2. Fill the plastic container with 1/2 inch of silica gel. While holding the flower by its stem over the container, pour a thick coating of silica over the bloom. Be sure to cover the bloom completely with the gel.

3. Lay the flower inside the plastic container and pour more silica gel over the bloom. You must have a 1/2-inch-thick layer of silica gel over the entire bloom and stem for it to preserve properly.

4. Once your bloom and stem have a thick coating of silica gel, put the lid on the plastic container and store in a dark area. It will take four days for the blue hydrangea to dry.

5. After four days, pour the silica gel out of the container and gently shake the bloom to remove all the silica crystals. Use a light brush to remove all the gel, if needed.