How to Preserve Flowers

Flowers are beautiful, but they don’t always look their best after being cut or picked. How can you save them from wilting?

To enjoy pretty flowers throughout the year, you’ll need to take care of them properly. The key is to store them correctly.

There are several ways to preserve flowers. For example, you can wrap them in a newspaper, place them in a vase filled with water, or add some sugar to prevent them from drying. You can even freeze them as an easy way to extend their life. Let’s explore the best methods on how to preserve flowers.

The heavyweight method

The easiest way to press flowers is to place them in a paper bag with heavy books on top. This method will allow the water to drain out slowly, which helps prevent mold from forming. Once the flower are completely dry, you can move it to a vase or display case.

How to Preserve Flower with the Press

The most popular way to dry flowers is by using a flower press. These presses are usually made from wood, glass, or plastic and come in various sizes. They allow you to squeeze out excess water from your flowers, which helps prevent mold growth. Flower presses are easy to use and inexpensive, making them a great option if you don’t have access to a dehydrator.

How to Preserve Flowers in the Oven

The simplest method to dry flowers is to place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the tray inside the oven at its lowest setting and leave it there overnight. This will dry out the petals without damaging the stems.

How to Preserve Flowers in the Microwave

The microwave is a great way to heat food quickly, but it doesn’t always work well for preserving delicate items like flowers. The high temperatures microwaves use can damage flower petals, causing them to shrivel up and turn brown. However, microwave drying preserves color and shape better than air drying.

Drying the blooms in a microwave oven is much faster than using a conventional oven. This is probably the best method to use for smaller, delicate flowers like daffodils or tulips.

Step 1.

Place your flowers onto a piece of white paper. Then fold the paper over on top of the flowers.

Step 2

Then, put the paper with the flowers in a folded paper towel.

Step 3

Put the flour sandwich into the oven. While the range was reaching the desired temperature, use something heavy and flat to press them flat. Turn on high in 30-second increments. 

Tip:

Microwaving the flower in short bursts for 10 to 30 seconds will help you calibrate the drying process. You’ll burn your flowers if you keep doing it for too long.

How to Preserve Flowers With Sand

Sand is very effective in preserving flowers. You can use it to preserve any flowers or plants. For instance, you can put sand inside a vase to protect your flowers from insects. Or you can place sand in a container to ensure your plant stays healthy.

Since sand is heavy and dense, you can only use it for preserving delicate plants and flowers. Flowers will take two weeks to dry completely, after which you can remove them from the sand.

Step 1

Remove all the stems about an inch from the top of the flower.

Step 2

Put your larger flowers face up in a container no less than two inches taller than the flower itself. Upside down flat-faced flowers do better than right side up ones. Long-stemmed flowers , like larkspur or gerbera daisies, should be laid down on their sides.

Step 3

Pour the sand gently over the flowers until they’re covered by an inch. Put a lid on top, cover them with saran wrap, and set them aside for ten to 21 days.

Step 4

Remove the flowers

When you remove your flowers, be very gentle. The sand is heavy, so it can damage the shape of your flowers or weigh them down and break their petals. Use a soft bristle brush to complete the removal.

How to Preserve Flowers With Silica Gel

Silica Gel is used to preserve flowers. It is a standard product that you may already have around the house. You can use this product to dry flowers. Dried flowers are beautiful but must be appropriately dried to preserve them. Some methods are better suited for different types of flowers, such as the silica gel method. Dahlias are among those challenging to dry by other means. Silica gel is an excellent preservative for this type of flower.

Silica gel is a desiccant. It removes moisture from the petals. It works by wicking away the water from the flower. It keeps the flower fresh. It is commonly used in preserving flowers.

Silica gel is used as a desiccant to remove moisture from plants. Orchid growers use this technique to preserve their flowers after harvest. The silica gel will absorb water from the flower petals, allowing them to dry out without getting moldy. 

So, where do you start?

• The First step is to use an airtight system. The container should not be used for food because the plastic absorbs substances that are unsafe for food, such as pesticides. A lid helps keep moisture out of the container, but not essential.
• The second step is filling the container with a half-inch to an inch of silica gel. This half-inch silica gel will be the base for placing the flowers.
• The Third Step is to put the flowers in the container without touching each other. Long-stemmed flowers can be placed sideways. Place the silica gel on the flowers. The time spent drying depends on the type of flower. Some varieties take longer than others to dry. Longer and thicker flowers take longer to grow in the gel.

That’s one reason why it’s crucial to check on the flowers when drying, to see if they are dry before they are expected to be. It is easy to overdry them, and if they become too dry, their petals become brittle and break easily when touched.