How to Dry & Preserve Your flowers
Summer fresh flowers are always so magical from the vibrate colors, textures and the way they can brighten up a room. Why not try and keep some of that beauty and magic after your bouquet has faded? This is something we do all the time here on the farm.
Why preserve flowers?
Whether the blooms are from a special day, a favorite from your summer subscription or you just love the colors, drying lets you hold onto the memories. Here is a list of things we use our dried flowers for:
Homemade wreaths
Framed art
Dried arrangements
Christmas decoration
If you are interested in learning how to make a dried flower wreath, we offer workshops here!
Here are a few ways to preserve your flowers
Method 1: Air drying (Best for most flowers)
This is the easiest method and the one we use the most. It works best for blooms such as Statice, Strawflowers, Larkspur, Celosia, Gomphrena and Yarrow all of which you may find in your bouquet!
Srtip off most of the leaves from stem.
Gather the flowers into small bunches (10-15 stems) and tie with elastic band.
Hang upside down in a dry, dark, well-ventilated space. (like closet or pantry)
Let them dry for 2-4 weeks until they feel dry crisp to touch.
Tip: flowers dry best in low humidity and high heat.
Method 2: Pressing (Great for Delicate Blooms)
This is a great method if you want to turn your flowers into cards, bookmarks or art! This works very well with flowers like Cosmos, Malope, Pansies and small foliage.
Place towel dried flowers between parchment paper or inside a book with clean, non-glossy pages.
Weigh the book down with other books or anything heavy.
Let them dry for 10-14 days.
Once dry, carefully remove and use as you like!
Tips
Dry the flowers at their peak-not when they are starting to wilt.
Avoid humid areas (bathrooms or basements) for drying
Dried flowers are very fragile! Handle gently and keep them out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.
