How to Dry Roses With Borax

Drying roses with Borax is inexpensive.

When you have an exquisitely beautiful rose at the peak of perfection, you may want to preserve it for years to come. Dry roses with Borax for a simple and effective method of preserving rose blossoms. Borax is inexpensive when you use it as a floral preservative, yet it helps roses maintain their beautiful shape and color as it removes the moisture from the petals.

Things You'll Need

• Rose blossoms
• Pruning shears
• Deep plastic container
• Borax
• Cornmeal
• Large bowl
• Wooden spoon

Instructions

1. Clip the rose blossoms from the stems when the blossoms are perfectly open. Wait until any dew evaporates if the roses are growing outdoors. Leave approximately 1 inch of stem protruding out from the bottom of each blossom.

2. Note the capacity of the plastic container you will use to hold the drying rose blossoms. Most plastic containers list capacity on the bottom of the container.

3. Combine one part Borax and one part cornmeal in the large bowl for a combined amount of materials that equals the capacity of your plastic container. Mix the two ingredients together well with your hands or use a wooden spoon.

4. Pour approximately 1 inch of the Borax and cornmeal mixture into the bottom of the container.

5. Place the rose blossoms onto the Borax and cornmeal mixture. Space each blossom so the blossoms do not touch each other or the sides of the container.

6. Sift additional Borax and cornmeal over the rose blossoms slowly and carefully. As you slowly bury the rose blossoms, shake the container gently to ensure the dry mixture sifts into every crevice of the blossoms and every area of the container. Continue adding Borax and cornmeal until the rose blossoms are under approximately 1 inch of the drying materials.

7. Place the open plastic container in a warm, dry location where no one will disturb the contents. Leave the rose blossoms drying for approximately two weeks.

8. Check the roses after two weeks to see if they are sufficiently dry. Carefully insert your hand beneath the Borax and cornmeal and scoop a blossom out of the mixture. If the petals feel dry and papery to the touch, the blossoms are dry enough. If the petals still feel moist, rebury the blossom and allow the blossoms to continue drying for two to three more days.

9. Pull the blossoms from the Borax and cornmeal when they are dry. Shake the excess Borax and cornmeal from the blossoms carefully. Dried roses will remain beautiful for years.

References

• North Dakota State University: Methods of Preserving Flowers
• Maryland Cooperative Extension: Preserving Flowers and Leaves

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish