Learning how to dry flowers is beneficial for crafters, event planners, and even homemakers. Dried flowers are great pieces of decoration, special occasion keepsakes, and ideal as accessories. Drying flowers instead of buying already dried ones can help you save money and ensure you choose the design and the kinds of flowers that you want, especially if you have your own garden.
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How to Dry Flowers - Timing
You need to keep in mind some essential things to ensure you accomplish your project efficiently and safely. With that in mind, when it comes to drying flowers, you need to harvest the flower at the right time.
A wet flower won’t be ideal since it will make the process longer, but you still want the flowers to be as fresh as they can be. The ideal time to pick the flowers for drying is in the morning when the petals no longer have morning dew on them.
Apart from this, you also need to choose the right flower variant or species. However, the best kind of flower to select will depend on the method of drying. Thus, they’re discussed together with the specific process.
How to Dry Flowers by Air Drying
Air drying is one of the easiest and least expensive methods. Just keep in mind that you’ll likely produce dried flowers with brittle petals. The flowers won’t also be as colorful and vibrant as when using other techniques. Plus, expect the flowers to crinkle and shrink. Nonetheless, you just have to make sure you follow the steps to the T and choose fresh and large flowers.
What You Need to Prepare
This method requires flowers that dry easily and quickly, including:
- African Marigolds
- Anise hyssop
- California poppies
- Cornflowers
- Dahlias
- Globe Thistle
- Hydrangeas
- Lady’s mantle
- Larkspur
- Lavender
- Love in a mist
- Roses
- Starflowers
- Strawflowers
- Yarrow
Besides the flowers, you would need a pair of scissors, a sturdy stick, hanger, hook, copper pole, or driftwood, string, and unscented hairspray.
What You Need to Do
Once you’re ready, here are the steps you need to take:
- Remove foliage from the stems, but you can leave some leaves if you prefer.
- Group your flowers depending on how you want them to look.
- Tie a string around the base, and cut any extra stems.
- Get the stick or hanger and tie the other end of your string around it.
- Find a safe area with minimal or no light where you can hang the tied flowers.
- Leave them hanging for three to four weeks, but make sure you spray the flowers with unscented hairspray daily for them not to look spoiled.
Once dried, you can display them as is or place them in a container or a frame. You may also cut the majority of the stems to make a brooch or corsage. Just make sure they don't get exposed to direct light.
How to Dry Flowers Using Silica Gel or Silica Sand
This method is the most expensive and requires some precautions because of the silica. That said, it produces vibrant, fresh-looking dried flowers.
What You Need to Prepare
With this method, you can actually pick any flower species as long as it can fit the container you plan to use and the amount of silica gel or sand available. If you plan to use a microwave together with it, though, you would need to pick fully bloomed flowers.
Apart from the silica gel or sand, flowers, and/or microwave, you would need to prepare the following:
- Dust mask
- Gloves
- Airtight (microwaveable) plastic or glass container
- Flowers
- Scissors or pruners
- Squeeze bottles
- Brush
- Unscented hairspray or mod podge
What You Need to Do
For this, there are two processes that you can consider: with or without a microwave.
Without a Microwave
With the materials on hand, you can start the process by following these steps:
- Remove extra leaves to ensure the flowers fit in your container. If you want to remove the stem, leave an inch of it to hold the flower head.
- Wear your mask and gloves.
- Pour silica gel or sand in your (microwaveable) container.
- Place enough flowers in it, ensuring they’re properly and fully covered with gel or sand. Some tricks to keep in mind: place flat-faced flowers upside down and lay long flowers on their sides.
- Cover your container and leave the flowers to dry for three to five days. (Skip if you plan to use a microwave)
- Gently remove the flowers from the sand or gel to check if they’re dry.
- If dried, re-bury them again and leave for another 24 hours to ensure they’re fully dry.
- Gently remove the flowers from the sand or gel.
- Take your soft-bristled brush and dust off the clinging gel or sand.
- Seal your dried flowers with mod podge or unscented hairspray to prevent yellowing.
With a Microwave
IMPORTANT - Read the instructions on your silica label or packets first to ensure it is suitable for placing in the microwave.
The first four steps are similar, but for the succeeding ones, what you need to do are:
- Cover your container.
- Place the setup and a cup of water inside the microwave.
- Set your microwave to 30 seconds.
- Once done, carefully check if the flowers look dry. If not, place the setup back in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds, and then check. Repeat until your flowers start to appear dry.
- Allow the setup to cool and gently remove the flowers from the sand or gel.
- Take your soft-bristled brush and dust off the clinging gel or sand.
- Seal your dried flowers with mod podge or unscented hairspray to prevent yellowing.
You can now display them by placing them in a container (dried flowers with longer stems) or frame. You may also make a brooch or corsage out of them. Just make sure they don't get exposed to direct light.
How to Dry Flowers With Your Food Dehydrator
One of the easiest and quickest methods for drying flowers, the main issue is that it’s also easy to overdry the flowers. Also, some flowers can leave their scent on the tray. You’ll also expect color changes in some flowers, especially purple, pink, and magenta species.
What You Need to Prepare
The perfect flowers for this method of how to dry flowers are small to mid-sized ones. However, it’s best to refrain from picking those with delicate petals. The other items you would need besides flowers and the food dehydrator are:
- Tray (one that you won’t use for food)
- Scissors or pruners
- Unscented hairspray or mod podge
What You Need to Do
To dry your flowers using your food dehydrator, follow these steps:
- Cut the stems, but leave at least an inch to protect and support the flower head.
- Place the flower heads on the tray facing up. Ensure the flowers have enough space to prevent them from sticking together.
- Leave them to dry; a few hours for mid-sized flowers and an hour for small species. Check periodically to prevent overdrying or burning them.
- Once done, take the tray out and allow it to cool.
- Carefully lift the dried flowers from the tray.
- You can now display them by placing them in a frame. You may also make a brooch or corsage out of them. Just make sure they don't get exposed to direct light.
How to Dry Flowers by Pressing
For this method, the resulting dried flowers are best used for botanical printing and making accessories. Also, there is a limited number of flower varieties that you can use.
Read more about how to press flowers.
They are those that can hold their color well and have thin petals to ensure they still have a good shape even when pressed. Some experts recommend the following:
- Borage
- California poppies
- Coreopsis
- Cosmos
- Delphiniums
- Geraniums
- Hibiscus
- Gladiolus
- Larkspur
- Nicotiana
- Pansies
- Queen Anne’s Lace
- Verbenas
With that in mind, for the dry-pressing technique, you can dry the flower head, the petals, or the flower with stems and leaves. There are also several ways to dry-press your flowers, namely:
- The Book Method
- With a Microwave
- Using an Iron
The Book Method
For this method of how to dry flowers, you would need a heavy, large, old book, absorbent paper, and any heavy item that can serve as a weight, such as a paperweight. Once you’ve all the materials, do the following:
- Remove any unwanted leaves and stems.
- Open the book and place a piece of absorbent paper.
- Lay and arrange the flowers on top of the absorbent paper.
- Place another piece of absorbent paper.
- Gently close the book, preventing the paper and flowers from moving.
- Place the book on a flat surface where no one can touch or knock it.
- Put a weight on top of the book.
- Leave it for about three to four weeks.
- Check the flowers after the said period. If they’re not dry enough or don’t have a paper-like feel, change the absorbent paper and let them sit longer.
With a Microwave
If you want a quicker way on how to dry flowers using the press technique, your microwave can help. You would need to prepare microwavable plates, gloves, and absorbent paper, and then follow these steps:
- Prepare your flower by removing parts that you don’t want to be included in your craft.
- Place a piece of absorbent paper on your microwavable plate.
- Lay the flowers with their faces down.
- Place another piece of absorbent paper on top, and then another microwavable plate to serve as a weight.
- Put the setup inside the microwave.
- Set to low and microwave for thirty seconds.
- Once done, wear your gloves, take the setup out from the microwave, and check the flowers. If they’re not yet dry, put the setup back in the microwave and microwave again for thirty seconds. Repeat until you achieve the right level of dryness.
Using an Iron
Your basic clothes iron is another item that becomes handy when learning how to dry flowers using the pressing technique. Like the microwave method, it is quick and easy. Apart from the flowers and iron, you would need a book, parchment paper, and an ironing board or any flat surface.
Once you’re ready, do the following:
- Lay a piece of parchment paper on a flat surface or ironing board.
- Lay the flowers, ensuring they have enough space in between them.
- Cover them with another piece of parchment paper.
- Slowly place a book on top to press the flowers initially.
- Turn your clothes iron on and set to low, and allow to warm up.
- Once ready, slowly remove the book.
- Press your warm iron on the parchment paper for approximately 15 seconds.
- Lift your iron to allow the paper to cool.
- Repeat steps #7 to #8 until the flowers are fully dried.
How to Dry Flowers - In Conclusion
There are lots of ways how to dry flowers, and they come with their own advantages and disadvantages. Choose what works best for your specific project, time, and budget. Whichever you choose, make sure you don’t overdry and under-dry the flowers so that they don’t look ugly and wilted.
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