How to Dry Flowers – Flower Drying Methods

Do you want your house to be full of flowers during the winter? You can dry your favorite flowers at home and do just that. We told you how to dry flowers for you. Here’s how to dry the flower:

Air-Drying Flowers

This method works best for small, sturdy flowers such as lavender or larkspur.
Prepare the flowers in bunches. Strip every flower stalk of all leaves. Sort flowers by type, then make bunches of up to 10 flowers of one type. Large flowers such as hydrangeas, roses and peonies should be dried separately.

Tie the end of each bundle with a rubber band. Wrap a large rubber band around two or three stems, wrap it around the entire bundle several times, and then finish by wrapping it around the other two or three stems.
Hang the bundles upside down. Store them in a warm, dark, dry place to prevent rot and minimize wilting. Air circulation helps the flowers dry out and prevents mold growth, so keep the panicles spaced at least 15 cm below the ceiling in an area with a good cross breeze.
Wait 2-4 weeks. The flower is ready when the leaves are crisp to the touch. Sometimes a bunch can last longer than four weeks, usually because the room is not ideal or the flower petals are unusually thick.
Protect with hairspray (optional). A light aerosol hairspray or mist of floral concealer will set the shape of the flowers. This will make them less susceptible to breaking or dropping leaves.

Using Microwave and Dryer

Choose your flowers. Microwaving works best for flowers with many leaves and no hairy or sticky surfaces. Roses, zinnias, and marigolds are good options, but thick-leaved varieties may not work.
Tie the flowers with wire (optional). The handles will not be flexible after microwave. If you want to twist the flowers for an arrangement, run a 20-24 gauge wire through the base of the flower and then wrap it in a pigtail around the stem. Although it is best not to use metal in the microwave oven
Pour the desiccant into a microwave-safe container. A desiccant is any substance that absorbs moisture. Silica gel is the best option for delicate and colorful petals, but you can use clay cat litter or a 50/50 mix of borax and cornmeal instead. Fill the container to a depth of 2.5–5 cm.
Bury the flowers under the dryer. Carefully place the flowers right side up, with a space of at least 2 cm between them. Slowly pour more desiccant over the flowers and bury them.
Put a glass of water in the microwave. A separate, shallow glass of water absorbs some of the microwave’s energy. This makes accidental burning or over-drying less likely.
Microwave. Add the bowl to the microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Pierce the dryer with a toothpick to see if the flowers are dry. If not, heat at 1-minute intervals, checking each one.
Let it cool for a day. Take the container out of the microwave. Close the container with the lid slightly ajar and leave it alone for 24 hours. It can take a long time to cool the desiccant (especially silica gel) to a safe temperature.
Brush the dryer. Now that the container has cooled, tilt it slightly to expose the flowers. Gently pull the flowers out, supporting them from below. Brush them with a fine brush

Applying Pressure to Flowers

Choose your flowers. Printing flowers is best done with small, flat flowers like pansies and lilacs. Avoid flowers with succulent stems or extra fine petals as these may be damaged.
Place the flowers on dry paper. Place your flowers on a matte, non-glossy paper such as newspaper, cardboard or tissue paper. Arrange your flowers in a single layer, then lay another piece of dry paper on top.
Press the flowers. Place them under something with a large, evenly distributed weight. Usually dictionaries or encyclopedias are good options for this, but you can also use heavy boxes or pieces of wood.
Wait 1-3 weeks. After the first week, remove the flowers and replace the paper with fresh, dry leaves. Then put them back under the weights to continue pressing the flowers.
Lift weights. After the flowers have left for a few weeks, remove the weights and paper and remove your flowers. They should be sharp and paper-thin and transparent to light.

Convection Oven Drying

Prepare your flowers. Cut a piece of poultry wire or finely braided wire large enough for all your flowers to fit. Next, slide the stems through the holes in the wire so that the stem dangles below while the bud holds the stem of the flower up.
Heat for a few hours at low temperature. When your convection oven is heated to 38ºC, put the wire rack with the flowers. Low heat dries flowers slowly; leave it in the oven for a few hours.
Remove the flowers. After the flowers are completely dry, you can take them out of the oven and put them on a drying rack to cool. Wait until it returns to room temperature before use.

Burying the Flowers in the Dryer

Choose your flowers. This is the best way to dry large, delicate flowers like lilies, as long as they don’t shed their petals too easily. Ideally, collect the flowers when they are half-open and dry them immediately.
Choose your dryer. The desiccant is an extra absorbent material that slowly draws water from your flowers. Whichever dryer you choose, it must be completely dry for it to be effective. Here are the most common options:
Add non-iodized salt (optional). While not everyone agrees, some people suggest that salt helps leaves retain their color. Try it with 3 tablespoons of salt per liter of other ingredients (15 mL per L).
Choose a container. If you have plenty of material, choose a container that can fit the entire upright stem. Most people save on materials and cut off the flower stem to leave a flower that can fit in a shallow container.
Bury the flowers in the dryer. Pour your material into the container to a depth of 2.5–5 cm. Place the flowers perpendicular to the material, making sure they are stable. Sift or pour more desiccant over them until they’re buried.
Wait until it dries. Store the container in a warm and dry place. If you are using an open container, keep it in a room with good airflow. After a few days, check the leaves using a toothpick and test for dryness.
Remove it carefully. Tilt the container to the side and tap the sides until the flower is exposed. Gently remove the dried flower by supporting it from below. Brush the packaging material with a small brush.