How Do I Dry Fresh Cut Flowers?

Many types of dried flowers make attractive arrangements.

Dried flower arrangements add color and beauty to your decor. They serve the same purpose as fresh flowers for busy people who can't find the time to keep fresh flowers in their homes. Some flowers dry better than others; in general, the less watery or fleshy the flower, the better it will dry. You can air dry your flowers, use silica gel or dry them in the microwave oven. Experiment with the flowers in your garden to discover which ones look best for dried arrangements.

Things You'll Need

• Clippers
• Clothesline
• String
• Airtight container
• Silica gel
• Microwave oven
• Small dish
• Dinner plate
• Microwave-safe pan

Instructions

Air Drying

1. Pick flowers during dry weather at a time when each flower is at its peak of beauty. If the flower has a stem and you want to include it in a dried arrangement in a vase, snip off several inches of the stem along with each flower.

2. Tie small bundles of flowers with string in the center of their stems. Include no more than six flower stalks in each bundle to allow for good air circulation.

3. Hang your bundles from a clothesline in a warm, dark, dry, well-ventilated area, such as a garage. Check them daily: most flowers will be dry in 10 days or less, depending on the temperature and humidity.

Silica Gel

1. Pour 2 to 3 inches of silica gel into an airtight container, such as a Mason jar, that is large enough for the flowers you plan to dry.

2. Place one layer of your cut flowers into the jar and cover them with more silica gel until they are fully covered. Carefully arrange your flowers and gently spread the gel to ensure that all petals are completely covered

3. Dry your flowers in the silica gel for two days to one week, depending on how fleshy the flowers are. Check them every day; if you leave them too long, flowers can become brittle.

Microwave

1. Dry a small number of flowers at the same time, especially if you have never used this method before. When you learn how long different types of flowers need to dry, you can increase the quantity you dry.

2. Place a shallow pan filled with water in your microwave oven: this will prevent your flowers from becoming overly dry.

3. Put a layer of silica gel on a plate and make a small burrow for each flower. Set your flowers face up on top of the gel. Set your plate next to or on top of the pan containing the water and run your oven on high for one minute. Check your flowers' dryness and run the oven for more time if they are not sufficiently dry.

4. Leave your flowers in the gel for up to two days to ensure they are dry.

Tips & Warnings

• When you dry flowers with silica gel, place flat flowers such as daisies face down in your jar containing the silica. Place flowers such as roses or tulips, which are more globe-shaped, face up.

• When drying flowers in silica gel, use separate jars for each different type of flower because some flowers dry faster than others.

• Air drying flowers can take up to three weeks. After your flowers are completely dry, you can spray them with hair spray or clear lacquer to preserve them.

References

• University of Missouri Extension: Drying Flowers and Foliage For Arrangements
• Florage: Drying Flowers