How to Home Dry Flowers

Preserve Your Garden Flowers

Summer flowers are a joy that you can preserve and enjoy throughout the whole year. Flowers can be dried quite easily using items commonly found in the home. The dried flowers can be displayed in a vase or used for craft projects such as wreaths and flower baskets. There are several easy ways to dry your flowers, including air-drying, burying them in a drying material, and even drying the flowers in your microwave.

Things You'll Need

• Cut flowers
• Silica gel
• String

Instructions

Air-Drying

1. Pick the flowers in the middle of the day when they are dry. Remove extra leaves from the flowers and cut the stems to the desired length.

2. Tie small bunches of the picked flowers together with string or a rubber band.

3. Hang the flowers in a dark, dry area such as a closet or shed. The flowers should hang for two to three weeks until completely dry, which will be when the stems snap easily.

Burying in Drying Material

1. Remove all leaves from the stems of the cut flowers. Flowers should be buried in silica gel, which can be purchased at a garden center or flower shop.

2. Bury the flowers in a closed container and leave for three weeks. It is only necessary to cover the flowers in the mixture; the stems will dry over time.

3. Remove flowers carefully from the silica gel and shake gently to clean. Save the silica gel as it can be used over and over by drying the gel in a warm oven.

Dry Flowers in the Microwave.

1. Place the flowers in a microwave-safe dish and surround with silica gel. This is needed to help the flowers keep their shape.

2. Set the timer for three minutes for heavier flowers and one minute for lighter, thinner-petaled flowers. Microwave temperatures will vary so check flowers for dryness after one minute on high.

3. Remove container from the microwave and let the flowers cool for 24 hours. Remove dried flowers from silica gel and gently shake to clean.

Tips & Warnings

• To protect and strengthen your dried flowers, spray them with hair spray or clear craft spray.

References

• North Dakota State University: Methods of Preserving Flowers
• University of Missouri: Drying Flowers and Foliage for Arrangements
• Universary of Maryland: Preserving Flowers and Leaves

Resources

• National Gardening Association: Drying Flowers