3 Ways to Preserve Flowers So You Can Enjoy Their Beauty Longer
You don't have to throw out that special bouquet.
Eugene Sergeev/Getty Images
A bouquet of fresh flowers can be a special but fleeting thing. While there are things you can do to make your flowers last longer, a fresh arrangement will typically only last for around seven to 10 days. Sometimes, however, you may not be ready to part ways with a bouquet after just one week, especially if the flowers were gifted to you for an important occasion or out of condolences. Fortunately, there are ways to preserve flowers and extend the memories that came with them. Below, learn how to dry flowers and two other ways of preserving them.
Related: Here's What to Do With Those Fresh-Cut Flowers as Soon as You Get Home
How to Preserve Flowers by Hang-Drying
The air-drying method is one of the simplest ways to preserve an entire bouquet of flowers. All you need is some twine and some patience, as this method requires a couple weeks to allow the flowers to fully dry. Here's how to do it:
Start by patting the flowers stems dry with a paper towel.
Trim excess foliage and any leaves that are already wilted or turning brown.
Gather flowers and bundle them in the way as you'd like them to be preserved. You can keep the entire bouquet bundled as is, or separate out smaller bundles from the bouquet. (You can also use this same method for singular flower stems.)
Cut a long piece of twine, enough to wrap around the bundle multiple times with plenty of excess for hanging.
Secure the bundle tightly, wrapping the twine around the stems multiple times and tying a knot.
Hang the bundle(s) upside-down using the excess twine to secure it to a hook or nail in the wall. It's best to dry the flowers in a cool, dark, well-ventilated spot to help them dry more evenly and without rotting. Keeping the flowers out of direct sunlight, if you can, also helps prevent color fading.
Allow the flowers to dry completely for two to three weeks.
How to Preserve Flowers by Pressing
If you're hoping to use your flowers in a craft project, rather than for display in a vase, pressing is a great method. After pressing, you'll end up with flat, two-dimensional dried flowers that can be used almost like stickers for a number of art projects. Here's how to do it:
Start by separating individual flowers that you’d like to preserve from the bouquet. Naturally flat flowers, like daisies, pansies, and buttercups, are best for that full-flower, “bird’s eye” view when pressed. You can also press flowers with vertical blooms and end up with more of a side view.
On a flat surface, lay the flowers between two sheets of absorbent paper. Newspaper, printer paper, or even coffee filters can all work.
Place a heavy book on top of the paper and weigh the book down with a heavy item. (You can use a brick, paper weight, or more books.) You can also place the flowers inside the book, but just be sure to protect the pages of the book with extra layers of paper to avoid transferring pigment from the flowers.
Allow the flowers to dry completely for two to three weeks.
How to Preserve Flowers Using the Microwave
Using a microwave to preserve flowers may seem odd, but it's super-effective. Silica gel—which you can find at craft stores—is actually the main component here, as it's a drying agent that absorbs moisture, but the microwave helps to speed the whole process up. Here's how it works:
Start by trimming flower stems to about 1 to 2 inches in length.
Pour a 1-to-2-inch layer of silica gel into the bottom of a microwave-safe bowl or container.
Place the flowers face-up onto the base of the silica gel. Then, carefully pour more silica gel onto the flowers, without crushing the petals.
Place the container uncovered in the microwave.
Microwave times will vary, depending on flower type and number of flowers, but start microwaving on a low setting for two to five minutes.
Once the flowers are completely dry, remove the container from the microwave and let cool. Cover the container and leave the flowers to sit in the silica gel for 24 hours or at least overnight.
Once the flowers are ready, remove them from the container, and carefully dust off any remaining silica gel with a delicate brush.
Related: This Discounted Floral Service Is So Easy to Use That I Bought My Mom a Year’s Worth of Flowers
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