How to Dry Flowers & Roses

Flowers can be a thoughtful gift that is appropriate for nearly any occasion. You can find such a large variety of flowers that help to make a bouquet fit the purpose. For example, a bouquet of roses or a mix of flowers with roses can help portray sympathy or love. Unfortunately, fresh flowers do not last forever on their own, but there are ways that you can preserve them. Drying your flowers and roses can help you accomplish this.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic coat hangers
• Unflavored dental floss
• Aerosol hair spray
• Fresh flowers and roses
• Scissors or garden clippers
• Rubber bands (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut the stems of your flowers to the length you desire, but leave at least six inches of stemming. Cluster bunches of stems together with rubber bands if you are drying a full bouquet and would like to keep it that way.

2. Tie the stems of the one bunch or one single flower to one side of the coat hanger, using the dental floss and a crisscross motion. Make sure that the flowers are now upside down with the stems pointed toward the ceiling.

3. Tie the second bunch or single flower on the opposite end of the hanger, again using the dental floss and crisscross motion.

4. Place the hanger in a dark and dry place, the a closet that isn't used. You can hang the hanger on a rod, hook or nail as long as the flowers are not up against anything. The flowers must hang two to three weeks, completely untouched.

5. Take the hanger out of its location and detach the stems from the floss. Spray the flowers with a light covering of hairspray and let them dry, then add a second coat for extra stability.

Tips & Warnings

• Fresh flowers and roses must be dried before they have started to wilt.

• The colors of the flowers will be darker when they dry.

References

• Clemson University
• ProFlowers