Posted by Christine Guenther on December 30, 2019|Last Updated: December 31, 2019 Uncategorized
Whether you have a bouquet from a special eventlike your wedding, graduation, anniversary, or you have a floral arrangement that you find especially beautiful, you don’t have to let go of the memories or the charm. You can dry your flowers to hold onto and enjoy your memories and the beauty of a special floral arrangement for years to come. There are several ways to save flowers, but at WildFlower, our Arnold florists prefer the traditional method of flower preservation.
Dried Pink Roses
How to Dry Flowers Using the Traditional Method
The most traditional method for drying flowers also tends to yield the best results, producing vibrant, life-like flowers that have been dried completely. To begin, you’ll need string and something to hang your flowers from such as a twig, ceiling hook, or clothing hanger.
First, trim all the leafy foliage from your flowers, leaving just the stems and blooms. Then arrange your flowers, as you like, and tie the stems tightly together with string. Leave a long tail at the end of the string that you can attach to your hook or hanger. The flowers will be hanging upside down, which allows them to dry in the most life-like positions.
Dried Flowers Hanging Upside Down
When hanging flowers to dry, it’s essential that they’re in a dry location where excess humidity won’t interfere with the process. They should also be in a place where they won’t be blasted with direct sunlight, as the sun’s powerful radiation will break down the pigments in your flowers, causing them to fade.
Rustic Roses
Before taking your flowers down and untying them, be sure they have had enough time to dry completely. For most blooms, especially those that are thicker ordenserlike roses, this process requires several days. You’ll know your flowers are completely dry when they begin to feel a little like tissue paper.
Additional Flower Drying Methods
In addition to hanging flowers to dry, there are other ways that apply gentle heat in order to speed up the process of drying flowers. This includes microwaving flowers, baking them in the oven, and even leaving them in the trunk of a car on a hot day! If you have the time, however, we always recommend hanging flowers because the traditional method produces the best-looking preserved bouquets since the flowers are not pressed against any flat surfaces during the process.
Pressing Flowers
How to Preserve Your Dried Flowers
Dried flowers are incredibly delicate structures, so they need to be handled with care. We recommend spritzing yours with a few coats of gently applied hairspray. This will fortify the blooms and also help to protect them from sunlight and moisture in the air. Be sure to spray the hairspray from a great enough distance that the force of the spray doesn’t damage the flowers.
Bouquet of Dried Flowers in Glass Vase
It’s also smart to display your flowers in a location, where they will be safe. Put them high enough that they won’t fall victim to foot traffic in your house.Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from the high humidity of bathroom showers.
For more information about preserving and drying flowers or for recommendations about the most beautiful bouquets to dry, we welcome you to stop by WildFlower to speak with our florists.
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of flower preservation methods, I can assure you that the article posted by Christine Guenther on December 30, 2019, provides valuable insights into preserving the beauty and memories associated with special floral arrangements. The traditional method of drying flowers, as mentioned in the article, is a tried-and-true approach that results in vibrant and lifelike dried flowers.
The process begins by removing all leafy foliage from the flowers, leaving only the stems and blooms. The flowers are then arranged to one's liking and tied together tightly with string. Hanging the flowers upside down, preferably from a twig, ceiling hook, or clothing hanger, facilitates the drying process and helps maintain their natural positions. It's crucial to choose a dry location with minimal humidity and no direct sunlight to prevent pigment breakdown and fading.
The article rightly emphasizes patience, noting that thicker flowers like roses may take several days to dry completely. The indication that the flowers feel similar to tissue paper when dry serves as a practical tip for determining the completion of the drying process.
While the traditional hanging method is preferred for its superior results, the article also mentions alternative flower drying methods involving gentle heat. These include microwaving, baking in the oven, and even utilizing the heat inside a car trunk on a hot day. However, the article leans towards the traditional method for its ability to produce the best-looking preserved bouquets, as it avoids pressing flowers against flat surfaces.
Preserving dried flowers requires careful handling due to their delicate nature. The recommendation to spritz the flowers with a few coats of hairspray is a valuable tip, as it fortifies the blooms and provides protection against sunlight and airborne moisture. The caution to spray hairspray from a distance to prevent damage to the flowers demonstrates an understanding of the fragility of dried flowers.
Furthermore, the article advises displaying dried flowers in a safe location, away from direct sunlight and high humidity, to ensure their longevity. The emphasis on placing them high enough to avoid foot traffic in the house is a practical consideration for maintaining the integrity of the preserved bouquet.
In conclusion, the article not only demonstrates a firsthand understanding of the traditional method of flower preservation but also provides additional insights into alternative drying methods and tips for handling and displaying dried flowers. For those seeking more information or personalized recommendations, the invitation to visit WildFlower and speak with their florists adds a personal touch to the expertise shared in the article.
