Drying Flowers

If you find it hard to say goodbye to your favorite summer flowers, there are several quick and easy ways to extend your enjoyment of their beauty and save some money as well.

One of the best ways to preserve your flowers is simply to dry them. You may be surprised to discover how many blossoms can be dried and then combined into striking and long-lasting floral arrangements.

While there are many ways to preserve flowers, air drying them is one of my favorite methods as well as the simplest. Gather flowers through the growing season when they are looking their best, then strip the leaves after picking. Use rubber bands to bundle together the same variety of flowers into small groups. Make sure the rubber bands are tight so as the stems dry, they will continue to constrict around them. Dry large flowers individually.

Hang the flowers upside down in a warm, well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight. Once dried, spray the flowers with hairspray or an aerosol floral sealer to help prevent shedding and shattering. This is especially effective on ornamental grasses.

If necessary, use thin floral wires (found in craft stores) to strengthen the stems of the flowers. Now they're ready to be arranged.

 

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Comments

Flower drying by Marianne on August 17, 2010

by Marianne28 on August 17, 2010 07:25
My children, all of whom live long distances from me, know I love flowers. Thus I receive many floral gifts thru the year. Right now I am drying the dozen roses that I got for my birthday simply by hanging up each rose individually. When dry, I reassemble the bouquet with the baby\'s breath and I will have a lovely bouquet for the coming year. The colors become soft, muted shades, very victorian looking.
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Dried Flowers

by Ramona Trujillo on September 6, 2009 12:45
I like to preserve all kinds of leaves but I never thought of doing the big ones like my elephant ears. I feel that is a nice take. Thank you for the inspiration. When it comes to flowers. I have a special red rose that I like to get the buds and even the more adult ones and dry them. They come in handy when I use one, two or even three dried buds to add on top of the tissue paper to a packaged gift prior to covering the box. I have gotten nice compliments when the box is opened and the first thing they see is the dried flower before they open the actual gift.
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drying flowers

by Marionetta Johns on September 4, 2009 06:46
I have to try this. The way I do it is to press the flowers in waxed paper with a heavy book on top of them. 98% of the time it works. I have three very special coursages that have been pressed this way. The first one my mother did in Sept 1949. It was the coursage she wore at my older brother's Bar Mitzvah. It was a purple orchard. The second one I did. It was my coursage from my Junior High School graduation, June 1056. It, like my mother's, red roses and green ferns and it being my irst "pressing", I am still surprised to see it as I did it 54 years ago. The third one I also did. It was my graduation present from my parents, the only thing I wanted for my graduatio. It was an white orchard. The next thing I will try will be a bouquet and I will try it the way Allen has it here. Thanks Allen for the tip on drying flowers
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guara plant

by Terry S. Talley on November 17, 2008 05:30
Hi P. Allen Smith, I live in Louisiana and my guara plants are blooming likr crazy!!! It's been in the 30's at night with frost and they still look great. Will they dry hanging upside down in a warm place also?
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hydrangas

by sherri on August 23, 2008 12:15
I am wondering when do I start picking my hydrangas for drying.
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Preserving plants

by Brigid Greene on July 15, 2008 05:16
I love your idea of preserving flowers and bringing them indoors. Preserved plants also do well glued down and framed. I've taken this idea about as far as it can go, using seed pods, vines, and even branches and roots for some of my projects. See more at www.BrigidGreene.com
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Flower drying

by Ann on May 11, 2008 06:34
I really like your web-site, I am always finding things to read and new topics I never even thought of, I have spread the word to my friends and we all enjoy discussing things we learned . This is a two way street, new information and a good reason to get together with other gardeners. Thank you.
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