How to Preserve Cut Flowers Safely

Dried flowers can make beautiful, long-lasting bouquets.

Fresh-cut flowers add beauty and color to a home. But flowers eventually wilt and die. Many flowers are seasonal and unavailable for most of the year. There are many methods from which to choose to preserve your flowers, depending on the type of flower and the purpose for which you are preserving them. With a few simple steps, you can safely preserve your cut flowers and enjoy their beauty for years to come in dried arrangements or in numerous craft projects.

Things You'll Need

• Silica gel
• An air-tight container
• Soft bristle brush
• Clear acrylic spray
• Twine
• Rubber band
• Scissors
• Paper
• Large book
• Weight or second large book

Instructions

Air Drying

1. Remove all the foliage from the flower stems with sharp scissors.

2. Select a few flowers. Hydrangeas, statice, roses and Queen's Anne lace all air dry well.

3. Wrap twine or a rubber band around the flower stems to secure them together. Don't crowd too many flowers together, because this may lead to mold formation.

4. Hang the bouquet upside down in a warm, dark but dry location. The bouquet will need good air ventilation as it dries. Depending on weather conditions, it may take one to three weeks for the flowers to dry.

5. Spray the dried flowers with clear acrylic spray to further preserve them.

Pressed Flowers

1. Select a single flower such as larkspur, pansy, sweet pea or zinnia.

2. Place the flower between two pieces of paper. Unglazed paper, or paper with no coating such as newsprint, is best. As long as the flowers do not touch, you can place more than one flower per piece of paper.

3. Place the paper-covered flower between the pages of a large book like a phone book. Place a heavy weight or another large book on top of the first book and leave your flower for up to four weeks, depending upon the flower's size.

4. Remove the flower when it is completely dry.

Silica Gel

1. Fill an air-tight container with at least 1 inch of silica gel.

2. Place individual flowers face up on the gel. Silica gel works well on larkspur, geranium, carnation, rose, aster and marigold flowers. Do not let the flowers touch. Gently cover the flowers with the silica gel.

3. Replace the lid on the container and place it in a cool, dark place for five to seven days.

4. Open the lid and gently pour off the silica gel to reveal your flowers. Dust off any remaining gel with your soft bristle brush.

5. Spray your flowers with clear acrylic spray and let them dry thoroughly.

References

• West Virginia University Extension Service: Preserving Flowers for Year-round Use
• Maryland Cooperative Extension: Fact Sheet: Preserving Flowers and Leaves
• North Dakota State: Horticulture: University: Methods of Preserving Flowers