How To Dry Out Flowers and Preserve Them
From wedding bouquets and special birthdays to prom and anniversary flowers, there are some occasions where flowers just mean more and are hard to let go of. Luckily, drying out flowers is a simple, easy thing you can do at home. And it means you can save all of your favourite blooms for as long as you want!
Whether you want to decorate with dried flowers, frame them or make your home smell amazing with potpourri, our drying flower methods will give them a new life!
How to dry flowers
To dry your flowers you’ll need:
Flowers, scissors, string or rubber bands, a hanger, unscented hairspray.
First, choose the flowers you want to dry. Flowers that have only just bloomed are the best ones to use for drying. You’ll then need to remove any excess foliage under the flower head and trim the stems.
Split your flowers into small bunches of 6-7 flowers. If you’re drying larger flowers like roses or hydrangeas then they’ll need to be on their own.
Tie each bunch with an elastic band or some string and hang them upside down from the coat hanger.
To help the flowers keep their colour, hang them in a dry, dark room away from any direct sunlight. The attic or a cupboard under the stairs would be ideal!
Leave the flowers for 2-3 weeks until they are completely dry. When you take them down spray them with a little burst of hairspray. This will not only protect them but it’ll also give them a nice shine.
How to dry flowers in a microwave
Drying flowers in a microwave is by far the fastest method, taking just minutes instead of weeks. To dry flowers in the microwave you’ll need:
Flowers, microwave, silica gel, microwave safe container, a small fine brush.
Remove any unwanted foliage from the flower and cut the stems so it fits in the container. Fill the base of the container with 1-2 inches of the silica gel. If you’re drying a larger flower then you’ll probably need a bit more.
Place the flower blossom up and pour more gel gently over the flower. If you’re adding multiple flowers make sure they’re the same type. Otherwise, they’ll dry at different rates and you could risk burning them.
The microwave time and temperature will vary depending on the flower. We’d suggest starting with 1-2 minute intervals. Keep checking the flowers to see if they feel dry, if not carry on microwaving.
When the flowers are fully dried, you’ll need to cover half of the container and let it cool for 24 hours.
Be super careful when removing the flowers from the container, you don’t want to accidentally bend or damage the petals. Once the flowers are free, brush the silica gel off with a fine brush and then display them however you want!