Keep Your Favorite Flowers: Five Easy Methods of Drying And Preserving Flowers At Home

Flower preservation is a form of traditional art. Whether you want to preserve them for the memories they carry or their beauty, flower preservation is a therapeutic hobby.

The method of flower preservation can be carried out in many different ways—from difficult to easy and expensive to cheaper processes. Every flower demands a unique method of preservation—and sometimes—very fragile flowers cannot be preserved, regardless of what method you use to store them. Let us look into some easy methods that can keep your flowers preserved for the longest time.

Air-drying method

In this traditional technique, you have to hang your flowers upside down, allowing the air to drain out the moisture from the flowers, gradually letting them dehydrate. However, the air-drying method is a little messy and finicky: the blooms may shed petals or catch mold. This process requires two to four weeks. Ventilation will assist the flowers to dry and if you hang them in a dim corner, the lack of sunlight will help prevent the colors from fading too much. Leave the bundle for two to four weeks—once your blooms are dry, spritz them with hairspray to prevent them from crumbling.

Sand method

This method will require you to cut the stems of the flowers and place them upright in a box filled with sand. Next, you have to sprinkle more sand from the top until the blooms are completely covered. Make sure you have poured sand in between the spaces. Now leave this setup in a dry and cool area for about three weeks. This method of preservation helps retain the shape of the flower.

Use epoxy resin

If you use epoxy resin, the results will be stunning. First, dry your flowers using the air drying technique. Next, take equal amounts of catalyst and resin in a measuring cup, and mix them. Now you can either immerse the flowers into the resin, or gently place the flowers in a silicone mold and pour the epoxy over it. If you are immersing the flower in the resin, you have to hold it in place for a couple of minutes, allowing the resin to fill the space between the petals. Then, pick the flower out of the resin and leave it until it dries. Resin typically requires nearly 5 minutes to set.

Use silica gel

If you are seeking quick results, use silica gel to speed up the process. Cover your flowers in a moisture-absorbing drying agent like silica gel—comprising silicon dioxide—a prime component of sand. Apart from the silica gel itself, you will also require a flat-bottomed, air-tight container. Fill the bottom of the container with silica gel—around 1 inch thick—then place the flowers, and pour more gel to ensure the petals are completely covered. Put on the lid and leave it for some days—until your blossom is dry.

Pick any of these methods to keep your favorite blooms intact forever.