The use of flowers in many aspects of daily living cannot be overemphasized. They are nature’s way of injecting life and joy into spaces. From their bright colours to their scintillating scents, they just add warmth and charm that’s hard to beat. Many times, we receive flowers as gifts from a special someone or grow attached to them when we plant them. They hold special memories and sentiments, and after a while, in another season, they dare wither away, taking all those memories along with them. Simply unfair! Don’t get mad at them though, there are ways you can keep them around for longer.
How To Preserve Flowers
Preserving flowers can keep them around for a lot longer than they are intended to stay, even through different seasons. Its preservation involves methods that remove the moisture from them while retaining shape, colour, and sometimes even scent. And is, many times, preferred to fresh flowers. How can I preserve my flowers? Let’s go through the different ways together.
Air Drying
Air drying is one of the oldest and most used methods of preserving flowers, mostly for its ease and convenience. It is usually used for bouquets or flowers with a lot of leaves like baby’s breath and roses.
- Step 1: Collect flowers that haven’t fully bloomed, as they will continue to open while drying.
- Step 2: Remove excess leaves if desired. This isn’t essential, but it will speed up the drying process.
- Step 3: Gather the flowers into a bouquet, tie them with string or a small rope, and hang them upside down in a dry, sun-protected room. Let them dry for about three weeks until they’re fully preserved.
- Step 4: Once dried, take them down and spray them with unscented hairspray to help protect them.
Using Silica Gel
A problem we face with preserving flowers is maintaining its 3- dimensional shape; most methods deform the flower a little bit. But with the use of silica gel, the flower’s shape and colour remain intact; it looks exactly like its fresh counterpart. Although more expensive, It is definitely a better and more accurate method than air drying, and is best suited for individual flower blooms like tulips.
- Step 1: Get an empty and dry container and fill it with silica gel, leaving a little space for the flower.
- Step 2: Gently place the flower into the silica gel, making sure that it is totally covered by the gel.
- Step 3: Close the container and leave it to marinate for about a week or two. After this time, you can remove the flower, which will now be preserved to last longer.
- Step 4: Spray thoroughly with an acrylic sealer to protect your flower.
Pressing
Have you ever seen flowers in frames, or maybe scrapbooks or birthday cards? These flowers are most likely preserved through the pressing process. It’s a widely used method that is perfect for maintaining colour and full form, and it dates back centuries. In recent times, there is a machine called the ‘flower press’ that makes it a lot more seamless, but even without it, it doesn’t take a lot to press your flower. All you need is a heavy book, parchment paper, and patience. Just like Silica gel, it’s best for a single-flower bloom
- Step 1: Select your flowers. If you have large blooms, trim the petals down to size. This method is effective for flowers with single or few blooms.
- Step 2: Open a book about halfway and place two pieces of parchment paper on both sides of the opened pages.
- Step 3: Place your flower gently on one side of the book, then close it. Add extra weight on top of the book and leave it for about 3 to 4 weeks. At the end, your flower will be ready to use in a card for loved ones or framed for decoration.
Microwave Pressing
Much like the usual pressing but a whole lot faster. This method is for people who don’t have the patience that the pressing method requires but at least have a microwave. Tomorrow is a friend’s birthday and you need a dried flower tonight? Microwave pressing comes highly recommended.
- Step 1: Remove any excess petals from the flower, then place the flower between two pieces of parchment paper.
- Step 2: Slide this ‘flower sandwich’ into a microwave-safe dish.
- Step 3: Set the microwave to low heat and heat for about a minute or less, depending on the flower type.
- Step 4: Check the flower’s dryness. Repeat the process as needed until the flower is completely dry and ready to use.
Freeze drying
Freeze drying is another method that keeps the finer details of the flowers intact. It’s not commonly used because the tools needed can be pricey or hard to come by, but its results are phenomenal. The flowers retain their original shape and colour; it looks no different from the fresh ones but would last a lot longer. Flowers that are freeze-dried can be used as decorative pieces in the home; placed in a pot near a window sill or porch, just like the ‘real’ ones.
- Step 1: Place your flower into the freeze dryer (specialized equipment is required).
- Step 2: Allow the freeze dryer to run. The drying process typically takes a couple of days, depending on the type of flower.
Using Epoxy Resin
Preserving flowers using epoxy resin is unlike the other methods. For all other methods, you need patience, but for this method, you need a little speed especially when the resin gets activated. Still, it’s one of the best methods to use as it always delivers unbelievable results. The flowers made from this method are typically used in jewelry or just as decorative pieces. Either way, they are usually very beautiful and long-lasting.
- Step 1: Initially dry the flower using any other method, preferably the microwave.
- Step 2: Mix the resin according to the manufacturer’s instructions, preparing just enough for the flowers you want to preserve.
- Step 3: Insert your flowers into the resin, or pour the resin gently over the flowers, making sure it flows between the petals. Remove the flower and let it sit for about 5 minutes to allow the resin to set. Your preserved flower is now ready to use as you like.
Benefits of Preserving Flowers
The benefits of preserving/drying flowers seem obvious, don’t they? Or at least the most important one is; making your flower last longer. When you’re given a flower by a crush, or maybe love your wedding bouquet so much, you want those memories to linger forever. Drying helps keep those memories alive. Although lasting long is the goal, that’s just one of the benefits of preserving your flowers. Here are some others that you may not realise.
Preserved Flowers are versatile
Preserved flowers can be used in a number of ways. From using them in jewelry to scrapbooks, bouquets, pieces in interior décor, to even putting them in pots like fresh flowers; the possibilities are endless.
Low or No Maintenance
Unlike their fresh counterpart, preserved flowers don’t need any nutrition. They don’t need to be watered or pruned, and there’s absolutely no need for photosynthesis. All it requires is a good spot to look pretty. If you are a busy bee and have little time to care for plants, but still want your space to have Mother Nature’s touch, then preserved flowers come highly recommended. You get all the beauty of fresh plants with none of the responsibility.
Preserved Flowers are Eco-friendly
They are eco-friendly as they don’t add or subtract any chemicals from the environment. There’s no need for insecticides or fertilisers with them. It’s a highly sustainable choice.
Preserved Flowers are in Great Condition Year Round
Fresh flowers grow in a particular season and tend to wilt away when unfavourable seasons arise. It’s the circle of life, and many times cannot be controlled. But with preserved flowers, you are sure of the year-round availability of your flowers. If you love seeing roses, no matter the season, having preserved roses is an excellent choice for you. Preserved flowers give you the ability to control the seasons; kind of like a god. Go ahead and bring summer to the spring!
Preserved Flowers cost less
Everyone deserves a space that they are comfortable and happy in, but it is true that sometimes, cost can be a hindrance to getting your dream décor. When it comes to the aspect of decorative flowers, getting preserved flowers is a lot wiser. Besides the fact that it’s most likely cheaper to get in stores, you don’t need to buy fertilisers, use water, pest control products, etc. It’s cost-effective and a preferred choice if you’d like to have your space beautified with flowers on a budget.
Preserved Flowers are Long-Lasting
Definitely, the most important feature of preserved flowers is that they last long. Usually, fresh flowers wilt away with the seasons, but preserved flowers can last up to 3 years if maintained properly. They are not prone to shrinking or withering and are unaffected by the weather or climate conditions. If a flower holds significant importance or sentiments to you, the best way to keep them as long as possible is to dry them.
Disadvantages of Preserved Flowers
Although preserved flowers bring a lot of positives to the table, they also have their own setbacks. These disadvantages can be managed or delayed if the flowers are maintained properly, so don’t be dismayed.
Preserved Flowers are Usually More Fragile
Most times, preserved flowers are like twigs; if they get mishandled, even a little, they snap. This can be a problem if there are kids in the home. It can get a little difficult to control the movement of children or even pets, and when they get hold of the flowers, they tend to break them. The best thing in this situation is to keep your flowers out of their reach, or sell the kids and keep the flowers. Just kidding!
They tend to Deteriorate with Time
It is true that preserved flowers last longer than Fresh ones. But since they don’t continuously get nutrients from the soil, they could lose their colour and essence over time. They may look less bright and vibrant, and their texture would wane, making them a lot less attractive. Nothing can really be done about this.
Preserved Flowers Lack The Fresh Scent of Flowers
Preserved flowers lack one of the most important features of flowers, the amazing scent they give to the room. It’s one of the major setbacks of using preserved flowers, and over time, it loses its scent even more. With proper maintenance though, many flowers can still keep their scent, although faintly.
Preserved flowers may trigger allergies.
Some preserved flowers have dyes or are maintained using certain chemicals that may cause irritation to the skin or other parts of the body. Make sure you’re not allergic to them before installing them in your space.
Bottom Line
If you have chosen to go the route of preserved flowers then congratulations are in order. Welcome to a sustainable, cheap, low-maintenance, and eco-friendly way of bringing life and personality to your space. There are numerous ways you can use your new dried flowers for decoration. One thing you should note though is that your dried flower should be kept away from direct sunlight and moisture to avoid deterioration. These are basically the only forms of maintenance it needs. Keep it in a cool and dry place, and your flower will brighten up your place for years to come.