Flower-drying expert Georgia Vance describes three ways to dry flowers at home. The preserved flowers look as though they've just been picked. Materials:
Flowers
Rubber bands
Plastic box
Play sand
Silica gel
Metal cookie tin
Melted wax
- The first method is to air-dry flowers. After picking flowers, gather them together in a bunch, wrap a rubber band around the stems, and hang the bunch upside down to dry. Drying takes several weeks (figure A).
- The second method uses sand to dry flowers. Pour a layer of white play sand into a plastic box. Lay flowers flat on the sand, and sprinkle more sand on top, to cover the blooms. Place the box in a warm, dry place. Flowers will dry in about three weeks (figure B).
- The third method uses silica gel. Use an airtight container such as a metal cookie tin, and cover the flowers with silica gel. The flowers should be dry in three days. Silica gel leaves a residue on the petals that may be removed by sprinkling sand over them (figure C).
Flowers dried with silica gel will wilt when exposed to humidity greater than 68 percent. To prevent flowers from drooping, dip them in hot wax immediately. If flowers are not waxed, they must be stored in a room with a dehumidifier that keeps the humidity under 68 percent. Dried flowers retain their vibrant original colors and may be arranged like fresh flowers.
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