The Speediest and Easiest Ways to Dry Flowers (2024)

If you have flowers from a special occasion like your wedding, anniversary, or graduation day, you can dry them and enjoy them for years! AtWalter Knoll Florist in St. Louis, we’re proud of every floral arrangement we create and think they’re all worth saving. We put together a list of the speediest and easiest ways to dry flowers, so you never have to say “goodbye” to another beautiful bouquet!

The Easiest Ways to Dry Flowers

1. Air Dry

Air drying is probably the simplest way to dry your flowers. Simply trim their leaves, tie their stems together with string, and hang them upside down in a spot where they won’t be in direct sunlight. Then leave them. This method yields the best, most life-like results with the least amount of effort. The only downside is that drying flowers this way will take several days.

2. Trunk Dry

On a sunny day when you don’t plan on drying anywhere, you can dry flowers in the trunk of your car. Simply lay them out on a sheet of parchment paper and wait for the sun to set. On a warm enough day, they’ll be completely dry by the end of the day.

The Speediest Ways to Dry Flowers

1. Microwave

Microwaving flowers is by far the fastest way to dry them, but this method does require some special supplies. You’ll need a microwave-safe container, a cup of water, and silica sand. First, remove leaves and excess stem length from your flowers. Then arrange the blooms in your container and make sure they’re completely surrounded by silica sand. Put them in the microwave with the cup of water and heat in 30-second intervals. Different flowers will need different amounts of time to dry completely, depending on their size, thickness, and density. Most, however, will be dry in just two or three minutes.

2. Oven

You can also dry flowers fairly quickly, using your oven and other items you probably already have in your kitchen. First, preheat your oven to its lowest heat setting. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and arrange your flowers on it so that they do not overlap. If flowers are touching while they dry, they’ll stick together. Leave them in the oven with the door cracked to allow moisture to evaporate and keep a close eye on them. Flowers should be dry within eight to twelve hours.

How to Preserve Your Dried Bouquets

Whichever flower drying method you choose to use, it’s imperative that you allow your flowers to dry completely. Any remaining moisture will cause the flowers to rot. You’ll know they’re completely dry when they start to feel like tissue paper.

If you’ve taken the time and effort to dry a bouquet, we recommend taking a couple more steps to keep it beautiful for years to come. First, you’ll want to spray it with a few coats of hairspray. This will fortify the delicate flowers and also protect them from the elements. To keep your flowers vibrant, refrain from displaying them in spot where they’ll receive direct sunlight. To keep your flowers fresh, do not display them in a location with high humidity, such as near a bathroom shower.

For more flowering drying advice or recommendations on the best flowers and mixed bouquets to dry, we welcome you to stop by Walter Knoll Florist.