How to Use Glycerin to Dry Flowers

Hydrangeas dry very well by using the glycerin method.

Drying flowers is an excellent way to preserve blossoms from bouquets that were a gift for a special occasion or any other time you want to preserve the beauty of a flower. Different methods work well in drying flowers, such as hanging them upside down to dry or using silica gel. Using glycerin is the preferred method of drying certain flowers and plants, such as the Mexican orange blossom, maple, eucalyptus, ferns, ivy, bells of Ireland and hydrangeas, according to the Lone Star Freeze Dry website.

Things You'll Need

• Glass vase or drinking glass
• Glycerin
• Knife
• Marker
• Soft cloth

Instructions

1. Select a blossom or branch that is pleasing to the eye and still fresh looking. Make sure it contains no damage from insects or disease before trying to preserve it. Flowering branches, such as weigela and flowering quince, should not be over 18 inches in length for the best results.

2. Combine a mixture of one part glycerin to two parts warm water in a drinking glass or glass vase, according to the University of Missouri Extension website.

3. Stir the mixture well and make sure it is approximately 4 or 5 inches deep in the glass container.

4. Remove the bottom leaves from the flower or branch to create better absorption.

5. Crush the bottom portion of the stem or split it with a knife. This will also aid in the absorption of the glycerin mixture.

6. Stand the flower or branch into the container and mark the depth of the glycerin and water mixture with a marker.

7. Watch the flowers for beads of glycerin on the petals. Once these appear, the flowers are ready to remove and place into a permanent arrangement or to use in a craft. Periwinkles, peony and statice all preserve well with the glycerin method.

8. Check the branches for color changes; it will take them from one to three weeks to absorb the mixture.

9. Add one part glycerin to four parts warm water, if the water level gets low.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase glycerin anywhere skin care products are sold. It is usually in the moisturizer section or in the pharmacy center.

• You can submerge thick leaves, such as magnolias, into a glycerin water mixture to use in crafts. Simply place a rock or other object on them to weigh them down and leave them for two to six days until they are soft and pliable.

References

• Lone Star Freeze Dry: How to Dry Flowers
• University of Missouri Extension: Drying Flowers and Foliage for Arrangements

Resources

• North Dakota State University: Methods of Preserving Flowers