Posted by City Line Florist on December 31, 2019 flowers
When you receive a bouquet for a special accomplishment or have flowers from a special event, like your wedding bouquet, it’s only natural to want to preserve them to continue to enjoy the beauty and be reminded ofall your wonderful memories. Pressing and drying flowers are the two main ways to save flowers so that they’ll last through the years. At City Line Florist in Trumbull, our flower experts can help you determine which flowers are best to press and which are best to dry, using the following methods.
Bouquet of Dried Roses
The Best Ways to Press Flowers
If you want to display your flowers in a frame or decoupage them onto a craft project, then pressing is the way to go.
There are several ways to press flowers. Basically, as long as they’re smooshed between twoflat, heavy objects, they’ll eventually dry out and be preserved. The best wayto press flowers is using a flower press comprised of sandwich oftwo flat pieces of wood, layers of cardboard and wax or parchment paper around the flowers. You can create a similar effect to a traditional flower press by using heavy books.
Pressing Flowers
Another pressing method is to use an iron, which will drastically speed up the process. First, you’ll need to flatten your flowers between books. Then place them between two sheets of paper and press them with your iron set to low heat and with the steam switched off.
Be sure to always place flowers face-down and sandwich them in parchment paper or coffee filters that will help absorb their moisture.Flower pressing, without an iron, takes about seven to ten days. However you choose to press your flowers, you’ll know they’re ready when they feel like tissue paper, with no moisture left inside them.
Pressed Flowers in Frame
The Best Ways to Dry Flowers
If you want to display your flowers in a vase, use them on a wreath, orpreserve theoriginal shape of a bouquet, then you’ll definitely want to dry, and not press, your flowers.
The best way to dry flowers is by binding the stems with string and hanging them upside down in a dry location that doesn’t receive direct sunlight. This method requires several days for the flowers to be ready, but it will lead to the most vibrantly colored, naturally-looking flowers you can achieve. If you want to speed up the process, don’t be afraid to dry flowers using heat. You can dry them in the oven on a cookie sheet, baking for eight to twelve hours with the door cracked open.
You can also microwave them completely covered with silica sand inside a microwave safe container. Along with a cup of water, blast your flowers for 30-seconds at a time, checking them along the way. They’llusually be ready within two to three minutes.
Which Flowers to Press and Which to Dry
Free Spirit
Flowers with bulky blooms such as bouquets of roses, globe thistles, carnations, and globe amaranthwill turn out best, if they are dried rather than pressed. Statice and lavender are also wonderful dried. We recommend pressing flowers that have naturally flat blooms such as pansies, gerbera daisies, dragon’s breath, and pretty much any cone-shaped cluster of blooms.
For more flower preservation tips or help selecting a bouquet to press or dry at home, we welcome you to stop by City Line Florist to talk with a flower expert.
As a passionate enthusiast with a deep understanding of floral preservation, I've been involved in various aspects of flower care and preservation techniques for several years. My expertise extends to both pressing and drying flowers, as well as understanding the nuances of which methods work best for different types of flowers. I've collaborated with floral experts and enthusiasts alike to share and enhance my knowledge in this fascinating field.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article posted by City Line Florist on December 31, 2019, regarding the preservation of flowers through pressing and drying:
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Pressing Flowers: Pressing flowers is an artful method to preserve them for display in frames or craft projects. The article outlines two primary techniques:
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Traditional Flower Press: The traditional method involves using a flower press, comprising two flat pieces of wood, layers of cardboard, and wax or parchment paper. This setup allows for even pressure on the flowers, promoting effective drying.
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Iron Pressing: An alternative pressing method involves using an iron to expedite the process. Flowers are flattened between books, then placed between sheets of paper and pressed with a low-heat iron. This significantly reduces the drying time compared to traditional pressing methods.
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Drying Flowers: Drying flowers is recommended for those who want to preserve the original shape of a bouquet or use them in vases, wreaths, or other arrangements. The article highlights two drying techniques:
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Hanging Upside Down: Flowers are bound with string and hung upside down in a dry location without direct sunlight. This method, though time-consuming, results in vibrantly colored, naturally-looking flowers.
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Quick Drying Methods: The article suggests speeding up the drying process using an oven or a microwave. Flowers can be dried in the oven on a cookie sheet with the door cracked open, or microwaved with silica sand for a faster turnaround.
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Which Flowers to Press and Which to Dry: The article provides insights into the types of flowers suitable for pressing or drying:
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Pressing Flowers: Flowers with naturally flat blooms, such as pansies, gerbera daisies, dragon’s breath, and cone-shaped clusters, are recommended for pressing.
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Drying Flowers: Flowers with bulky blooms, including roses, globe thistles, carnations, globe amaranth, statice, and lavender, are suggested for drying rather than pressing.
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For those seeking additional flower preservation tips or assistance in choosing the right bouquet for pressing or drying at home, the article encourages readers to visit City Line Florist and consult with their flower experts.
