Nobody likes to say goodbye to a bunch of perfect flowers that were once fresh, plump, and vibrant. After all, these blooms kept you company for a while, and you are not yet ready to let them go, especially after choosing each and every one of them with great care and love. Crafting that lovely bouquet must have taken time and effort, and of course, you did pay for it. It is no surprise why many people wonder how to preserve flowers. It is an important consideration because a flower is not simply a flower – it is mostly connected to fond memories that you want to cherish for a long time.
Did you receive a bouquet from someone special on your birthday? Or perhaps you got married and want to preserve your wedding flowers. Or, maybe you have lots of pretty roses in your garden, and you don’t want them to die or wither away during the winter. Whatever the reason may be, we are here to help you understand how you can preserve your flowers so that they can last forever.
The process of preserving flowers largely depends on the state of the bloom. Have most of the petals fallen off? Are the stem and the flower looking a little limp? Has the rose turned brown? The best time to preserve a flower is when it is at its full blooming stage. Here are a few ways to preserve your flowers:
Contents
The Traditional Air Drying Method
This is a traditional classic technique. If you want to stick with this one, all you have to do is hang your flowers or flower bouquet upside down. The air will take away all the moisture from the blooms, and they will gradually dehydrate and air dry.
However, this method has several consequences too. For instance, there are chances that mold may attack the flowers, or the petals may start to fall off. Plus, the process is lengthy and is likely to take a few weeks. But on the bright side, this traditional air-drying technique works well to perfectly preserve flowers.
To start off, you will need a well-ventilated area that is away from direct sunlight, a ribbon, a hanger or a hook to support the weight of the flowers, and hairspray (optional). Once the flowers are in full bloom, tie them up with a string or a ribbon by their stems. Securely fasten them tight enough so that they don’t slip out as they dry but not too tight to bend the stem.
Hang the flowers upside down in the area. The lack of sunlight will prevent the colors from fading away too quickly, and the ventilation will help to dry them up quickly. Leave the flowers there for at least two to four weeks while regularly keeping a check to see how they are doing. Once the flowers have dried up, use the hair spray for a quick spritz to prevent them from crumbling easily.
The Book Pressing Method
If you are looking for an easy method to preserve flowers with the least amount of risk, you can try pressing up your flowers in a book. However, this does not mean that the process will speed up, it could easily take up to a month. But the amount of effort and work up front is significantly less. The results are consistently wonderful, and there is minimum upkeep and effort that goes into this task. The only drawback of this technique is that it works best when the stem is removed.
To begin, you will need a heavy book, such as a dictionary or a directory, a pair of scissors, and few sheets of paper. Start by removing as much of the stem as you possibly can, leaving the flowers down to the heads. Open the book to the center and place papers over the pages. Close the book to create a crease so that the paper does not move. Finally, place the flowers inside the book, close to the middle, close the book and press it flat.
The paper will absorb the moisture from the flowers eventually. You can monitor the progress every once in a while to see how much they have desiccated. You can also replace the paper to create a dry, fresh surface for the flowers. After about four to five weeks, you will find perfectly fried blooms that will last forever.
Microwave Pressing Method
The microwave pressing method is a slight upgrade over the book pressing method. The radiation emitted inside the microwave heats up the moisture in the flowers, which turns into vapor and escapes, leaving behind dried blooms.
While the method may seem scary and unusual to some, it is a perfectly quick way for people who want to save time and resources. However, since it is a shortcut, it has higher chances of producing unwanted results or mixed results that may not be the best.
So, if you want to give it a try, you will need two ceramic plates (microwave friendly), two coffee filters, and obviously, a microwave. Put the ceramic plate inside the microwave and place a coffee filter over it. Put the flowers on top and cover them up with another coffee filter. Finally, put the other ceramic plate on top. Set the timer for one minute. Once the time is complete, take it out to assess the dryness. Replace the coffee filters if you have to, and repeat the process until the blooms are completely dry.
Conclusion
The above techniques are quite simple and easy. They can easily turn any flowers into beautiful mementos. You can experiment with different techniques and figure out which of them provides the best results. The traditional air-drying method provides the best results, but if you want to save time, we suggest that you go with the microwave method.
