Dry Flowers for Crafts or Display

Press, iron, or use silica gel or glycerin to preserve blooms for candles, paper, soap, or wreaths.

Jul 19, 2006

With so many flowers in bloom, it is a great time to think about preserving your blossoms to enjoy all year.

I have a large basket up on top of a hutch. It is filled with every rose my husband ever gave me. I save flowers from all different occasions and for sentimental as well as aethestic reasons. Dried flowers can be used in candlemaking, soapmaking, wreaths, etc. Dried flowers can simply be framed and hung on the wall. This isn't a project for just the summer. Think about that special rose you got or the pansy your mother gave you.

Flowers have driven people to try almost anything in an effort to capture and save their beauty. People have used sand, borax, cornmeal, water, heat, pressure, glycerin, silica gel, air, microwaves, alcohol, cat litter, antifreeze, sawdust, cornstarch and even washing powder. The idea is to be able to remove the moisture from the flower while still retaining its natural beauty. Different products give different results. Below are the most common methods used today. Pick one and give it a try.

To know which flowers work best with which method of drying, refer to Susan Mertz's article Flowers and Plants for Drying

AIR DRIED

To dry out flowers is simply to remove all of the moisture from them. This can be done by bundling up the flowers and hanging them upside down until dry. No chemicals are needed. It is believed that hanging them in a dark place will give you the best color retention. They will be fragile but will retain much of the color. These are best for displays.

PRESSING

This is done by placing the flower between the pages of a book. When closed the weight of the book over time presses the flower flat while the moisture evaporates. These are great for framing.

SILICA GEL

This material is oddly, not a gel. It is granules that cover the flowers. The container is sealed and left to dry for a week. You can also speed up the process by putting it into the oven. You can pick these up for a reasonable price at your local craft store. Follow directions on the container. Color is better. Flowers are fragile. The good part is that the product is reusable.

HEAT PRESSING

I remember doing this as a child and loved it. It is great for leaves too. Put your flower between to pieces of wax paper and iron with a medium temp iron. Do not reuse wax paper. This is not good for roses or any thick flower. Great way to preserve the fall colors.

GLYCERIN

For retaining color and softness, glycerin rates highest. It works by absorbing water from the air and does not evaporate. The eucalyptus in stores is preserved with glycerin. To preserve some greenery (i.e. rhododendron, magnolia, ivy, etc) Smash the ends of the stem with a hammer. Place the stems in a glass or vase that is 1 part glycerin to 2 parts water. Make sure as the mixture goes down in the glass it is refilled. This can take a few week. The leaves are done when the leaf is completely golden brown. Wash stems.

Glycerin can be bought at any pharmacy. There are different grades with a range of prices. The technical grade works well.

It isn't too early to think about making wreaths and packing them away. Christmas is around the corner. Where I live, it gets snowy and bitter cold. Having someone give me a gift made from summer blooms would be amazing.

The copyright of the article Dry Flowers for Crafts or Display in Crafts is owned by Mary Welling-Bonney. Permission to republish Dry Flowers for Crafts or Display in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.