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How to
Dry
Flowers
Love your flower bouquet so much you don't want to
have to let it go? Consider preserving it with our easy-to-follow
guide. Let us show you how to dry flowers in a matter of a few
simple steps, so that you can keep your special memories close for
years to come. Whether you choose to hang the flowers on their
own or add them to another crafts-related project, you'll love the
delicate beauty of your dried flower bouquet. Interested in an added
twist? We'll show you how to dry flowers in the microwave! |
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| Before
you get started, you'll need to assess whether your flower bouquet
will dry well. Blooms should not be fully mature or they will lose
their petals in the flower drying process. Also, consider the type
of flowers you are using. Air drying will work for more robust
varieties such as roses or small, long-lasting varieties like
lavender. For more delicate flowers like lilies, try another
preservation technique, such as pressing. Gerbera daisies,
chrysanthemums, roses, and tulips are great
candidates for the microwave flower drying technique, a process that
will preserve their color and structure better than air drying
does. |
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How to Air Dry Flowers
(using
everyday household items)
1.
Strip excess foliage from your flowers and cut the stems to
your desired length (but not shorter than six inches). To help
your flowers maintain their color during the drying process,
it is important that you remove them from sunlight as soon as
they're cut. Rubber band bunches of stems together if you
would like to hang a bouquet, or leave the stems be if you'd
like to hang the flowers individually.
2.
Find a dark, dry area with good circulation. An unused closet
will work perfectly. With unflavored dental floss, secure the
bottom end of the flower’s stem to a hanger. You may hang two
flowers/bunches on each hanger by hanging items from each
side, or you can hang one flower/bunch by hanging it from the
middle. Once secure, hang flowers upside down to dry. Leave
your flowers there for a good two to three weeks and make sure
not to remove them until they are completely dry.
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| 3.
Remove the flowers from the hangers and spray them with hairspray to
give them some extra protection. You can now hang your dried flowers
around the house as you please, remove the petals and make
potpourri, or use them in a crafts-related project to make a
thoughtful gift for someone else. Dried flowers don't like sunlight
or extreme heat, so try to find homes for them in more shaded
areas. |
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How to Dry Flowers with a
Microwave
(requires
items found in craft stores)
1.
Find a microwave-safe container that will hold your flowers and fit
into the microwave. (Do not use a dish you might want to use for
food again after this project.) Your flowers will dry to the shape
of the bottom of your container if you do not support them, so you
will need to use silica gel in the container to help the flowers
maintain their shape. Cover the bottom of the container with about
an inch or two of silica gel (more for larger blossoms), place your
flowers in the gel with the flower blossom opening upward, and then
gently pour gel over the flower to ensure all petals are positioned
to dry properly. If you are not careful with the gel, you can
flatten your petals. Still, be liberal with it for best results.
Don't worry; your silica gel can be used over and over again.
2.
Microwave temperature and time will vary from flower to flower, so
find the right recipes by trial and error. Place your uncovered
container in the microwave. A safe bet is to start the microwave on
one or two levels above defrost for 2-5 minutes. Roses can withstand
more heat; daisies prefer lower temperatures. Start with a short
amount of time, checking your flower's progress periodically. If it
doesn't seem to be drying, you can increase heat and time
accordingly.
3.
Once your flowers have dried, open the microwave and immediately
cover the container. Remove the covered container from the
microwave, open the top a quarter of a centimeter, and let it sit
for 24 hours. Once the flowers have cooled, clean off the petals
with a fine brush and mist them with an acrylic spray. Voila! Fresh
baked flowers!
Whichever
method you choose, we hope that you might find a new hobby in our
How to Dry Flowers guide. We all wish our fresh flowers lived
forever, but now you can preserve your special bouquet and enjoy it
for years to come. There are meanings and expressions behind all
flower gifts, so we hope we helped in making your memories last.
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