How to Press Roses and Other Beautiful Flowers (2024)

FAQs

How to Press Roses and Other Beautiful Flowers? ›

There are two ways to press using this technique: Start by placing the flowers between two layers of plain, absorbent printer paper ($4, Target), then place heavy books on top. Or place the flowers between the pages of the book itself, leaving at least 1/8 inch between multiple pressings.

Start by laying your flowers out on some absorbent baking or parchment paper. Place another layer of paper on top, then use a heavy book to press the flowers. The pressure will cause the flowers to flatten and dry out, preserving their colour and shape. This method usually takes 2-3 weeks.

The best flowers for pressing are those with a single layer of petals, such as cosmos and delphinium; Virginia blue bell tulips, pink miniature roses, perennial geraniums, and forget-me-nots work well, too. Thicker flowers, such as peonies, lilies, and large roses are generally not good candidates, notes Gross.

Not all plants are easy to press. Some, such as bluebells, take a long time to lose moisture and tend to go mouldy. Bulkier plants are also more difficult to press well (see our top tips below).

Place your blooms in a large container, preferably airtight, and bury them in silica gel. When burying roses in the gel make sure that you cover them very gently until every part of the flower is concealed. Now seal the container tightly. In a few days to a week, gently uncover vibrant, preserved flowers.

To press flowers, you must dry them out as quickly as possible to prevent browning. There are a number of different types of paper you can use to accomplish this, such as printer paper, flat cardboard, plain non-treated facial tissue or even non-corrugated coffee filters.

Dried flowers do not do well in moist and humid environments. They've had all their natural moisture pulled out of them, after all! Any contact with water can cause the stems and petals to go limp and turn brown, and can also cause dyes to leach.

You need newspaper, blotting paper, printer paper, flat coffee filters, flat cardboard, or plain, untreated facial tissues ($9, Sephora) to absorb moisture and aid drying. The goal is to dry flowers as quickly as possible to prevent browning. Avoid paper towels because their textures can get imprinted on the petals.

If you have an interest in pressed flowers, you need to understand that this change in hue is normal. While this change may make the flowers appear differently, this is just another natural part of the flowers' life and death. One of my favorite pressings is iris petals, and they turn translucent and a little brown.

Certain flowers such as, calla lilies, dahlias, roses, lilies, white lisianthus, mums, chrysanthemums, anthurium, tulips, white orchids, tropical varieties, will not press well with our methods.

What flowers are good to press for beginners? ›

Flowers like zinnias, delphiniums, pansies, violas, daisies, geraniums, African violets, cosmos, and other smaller blooms are perfect.

To preserve these blooms for longer, consider pressing them, which will maintain their beauty for years to come.

Mold on dried flowers occurs due to the presence of moisture, improper storage, or exposure to high humidity. Dried flowers are porous and can easily absorb moisture from their surroundings. Once moisture is trapped within the petals, molds, and fungi find a suitable breeding ground to thrive.

Pressing Flowers With Books

This method is a simple one! To get started, open the book and place your parchment paper (newspaper works in a pinch!) on the pages. Place the flowers face down on the paper, and close the book. Then, simply wait around 10 days, and remove your flowers once they're fully dried.

Prepare the flower for pressing by placing it between two sheets of absorbent paper. Flatten the flower with a heavy book first, then place the paper and flowers on a small tabletop ironing board ($15, Target) then press the warm iron on top of the upper sheet of paper for 10 to 15 seconds.

Turn the flower head over and gently place it face down onto the flower press ensuring all the petals are pushing away from the flower's centre. Put the press back together and tighten the bolts until it's firm. Leave the press in a dry spot out of direct sunlight for two to three weeks.

You'll want some nice and thick books (like a phone book) to make sure you are getting really flat blooms. Set your stack of books in a dry place and leave until the flowers press and dry fully. This book method also takes a couple of weeks to dry the flowers.