There’s never been a moment when the beauty of flowers is in doubt. They can efficiently serve as a colorful addition to any space. However, the issue is that these colorful blooms, despite their level of awesomeness, tend to only last for a few days. If you want your flowers to last longer, then perhaps you should be thinking of drying them.

Often depending on the type of flower in question, several methods can be adapted to dry flowers. The good thing is that most of these methods can be carried out at home. Therefore, if you are looking to preserve flowers, you can adopt any of the methods listed in this article to dry and preserve flowers.

When do You Dry Flowers?

It all boils down to cutting the flowers at the right time. Typically, the best time for cutting a flower to dry is before the bloom opens fully. This is done so to ensure that the flower retains its best color. You should also hang the flowers to dry in a cool dark place, as direct sunlight can potentially fade the flower’s colors.

If you are thinking of drying a bouquet such as a wedding bouquet, it’ll be best to dry it once you are done using it, considering the huge possibility that the flowers might have been cut for at least 24 hours. For people that might receive cut flowers like roses, the temptation to leave the flowers in a vase until all the blooms get fully open is often strong. But no doubt, drying them before they get completely opened is the best way to save the flower for sentimental sake.

What’s The Best Method for Drying Flowers? 

Hang Upside Down

This is one of the most popular methods for drying flowers. If you need to hang flowers upside-down, you can either use a closet rod, a cloth hanger, or a wire.

The most common way of doing it is to gather flowers individually or in small bundles and hang them upside-down. I prefer to use rubber bands or clothes hangers. I do this by tying the flowers together at the stem and then lining them up in a row to be tied to the hanger. However, if the stems appear delicate, you can attempt tying them with dental floss. You can also decide to hand the flower from a rod or wire, as long as you make the flowers parallel to the floor. Usually, this method would be completed in a few weeks, although you might experience petals falling off. 

Pressing dried flowers in a book

Another popular method for drying flowers is pressing flowers in a book, especially if you want the dried flowers to lay flat.

Pressing is an excellent method to adopt when you are looking to preserve just the flowers without taking up much room in your space. Experts often recommend that you cut the flowers before they hit full bloom in the morning. Also, ensure that the dew has evaporated when doing this. Line the flowers on a plain paper, newspaper, tissue, blotting paper, or white paper and place another sheet on top. Next, carefully place the flowers in a book and close it. If you wish, you can stack books on top of the book containing the flowers. You can also see results in a few weeks with this method.

Microwaving

This is perhaps the quickest method for drying flowers. Air drying or microwaving flowers can get them dried up in as little as one day. If you do not fancy waiting for weeks to get the flowers dried up, then this method is the right way to go. Cut off the stems from the flowers, then place them in a microwave-safe container. We recommend that you cover the flowers in a silica sand mixture. Without putting a lid on the container, microwave for one minute on high. Do not microwave for more than one minute at a time to prevent browning. If after the first minute, the flowers are not dry, microwave it for another minute. Continue until the flower gets completely dry. Finally, let the flowers remain in the mixture for at least 24 hours to ensure total dryness.

There you have it, everything you need to know about drying a flower. Each of the methods listed above is effective for drying flowers and keeping them fresh for long.