From bright and bold arrangements for a special occasion to a simple bouquet “just because,” flowers add some spice to our day-to-day and bring the outdoors in. But what happens when they begin to wilt? Instead of tossing them out, why not preserve their beauty instead? Drying and pressing flowers are age-old arts that will let you hold on to those special memories a little longer. It’s also a fun and creative way to reuse your blooms to make long-lasting keepsakes.
Whether it be a bouquet from that special someone, flowers picked from your garden, or an arrangement from your favorite Brooklyn florist, you can keep alive the joy and beauty they brought into your life.
Drying Flowers: Let Nature Take Its Course
Air-drying is the easiest method of flower preservation. It's as simple as allowing nature to take her course with your helping hand.
Choose Your Flowers
Not all flowers are equal when drying. Flowers such as roses, lavender, and baby's breath dry well, maintaining their shape and color. Choose flowers that are at their best, as these will provide the best results.
Preparation
Prepare your flowers for drying by removing excess foliage and cutting the stems. Place your flowers in small bunches and tie the stems together with a rubber band. Do not crowd your flowers in the bunch, as this will cause mold to form or uneven drying.
Hang to Dry
Hang your flowers upside down in a cool, dark place with low humidity. It can be a closet or any other unused nook of a room. Upside-down hanging will also prevent the flowers from flattening out while drying. Depending on the type of flowers, the drying process can take anywhere from one to three weeks.
Preserve Your Work
When flowers are thoroughly dry, a light coating of hairspray will set them in place and help prevent crumbling. They are now ready to put in a vase, into wreaths, or add them to your craft projects.
Pressing Flowers
While drying flowers preserve their three-dimensional shape and texture, pressing flowers offers a different way to maintain their beauty. Pressing flattens the flowers and captures their intricate details in a delicate two-dimensional form. You can use pressed flowers in card-making or to add a personal touch to your journal or scrapbook.
Choose Your Blooms
Select fresh flowers at the peak of bloom. Flowers with naturally flat faces, like pansies, daisies, and violets, tend to press especially well. If you're using flowers with more dimension, like roses or peonies, you may want to split the blooms into single petals for pressing.
Pressing Process
Traditionally, you put your flowers between sheets of parchment or wax paper and sandwich them between the pages of a heavy book. You can add extra weight on top with more books or something equally heavy. If you don't have that much time, consider getting a flower press or even an iron on low heat for a quick press.
Patience Is Key
Press your flowers for about two to three weeks. This is just to make sure they are fully dry and flat before taking them out. If you hurry through the process, it will affect the flowers; they might not hold their color or even begin growing mold.
Creative Uses
Once your flowers are pressed, the sky is the limit! You can frame them into a permanent art piece, decorate candles or bookmarks with them, or even add them to handmade cards for that personalized touch. Pressed flowers are one of the most beautiful ways to keep a small part of nature close to you all year round.
Preserve Your Memories
At Dragonetti Florist, we believe in creating arrangements that are as unique and memorable as the moments they represent. Whether you're looking to send a breathtaking bouquet to brighten someone's day or wish to preserve the beauty of our fresh, hand-picked flowers for yourself, we can assist you. Order your flowers online and let our talented florists in Brooklyn do the rest.
So the next time a gorgeous bouquet is gifted to you, remember—the magic doesn't have to end when the blooms begin to fade. With these tips on drying and pressing flowers, you can always keep a part of that beauty with you. Visit us today or check out our online store for your next favorite arrangement.