How to Dry Flowers

After selecting the appropriate flowers, the next step is to remove any unwanted leaves from the stems. Then, cut the stems to the length you want to keep with the help of scissors or pruning shears. This makes handling them easier and helps them dry better.

Gather the flowers into small bunches, about 3 to 5 stems in each group. Use string or twine to tie the stems together tightly. Make sure to leave a loop of string or twine at the end. This loop will make it easy to hang the bunches of flowers upside down for drying.

Hang the flower bunches upside down. This way, they dry while keeping a more natural shape. Choose a spot that’s well-ventilated and dry, away from direct sunlight. Excessive sunlight can fade the flowers. A hanger or a rod can be useful for securely hanging each bunch separately.

Patiently leave the flowers hanging in the same position for 2 to 3 weeks. They’re ready when they feel dry and stiff to the touch.

Once you have your flowers in hand, take two sheets of wax or parchment paper to protect them and absorb any moisture. Put your flowers flat between these two sheets and make sure they don’t overlap. Neatly arrange petals and leaves, as they will keep this shape when pressed.

Use a heavy book to press the flowers. Open the book and place the pre-prepared flower sandwich (the flowers between the paper) inside, then close the book. For extra pressure, stack more heavy books on top.

Let the flowers sit in the book for 2 to 4 weeks. Also, keep the book in a cool, dry place where it won't be moved. After waiting patiently, carefully open the book to reveal your dried, pressed flowers. They should be flat, dry and still colorful.

Once you have gathered your flowers, cut the stems to the desired length with a pair of clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears. If you're going to display them in water first, aim to cut at a diagonal angle to improve water absorption. Remove any leaves from the lower part of the stem that you don’t want to keep.

Take an airtight container that is large enough to hold the flowers without them touching each other. Pour about one to two inches of silica gel crystals into the bottom of the container to create a base layer.

Silica gel absorbs moisture from the environment. The base layer makes sure that the flowers do not sit directly on the container’s surface, which prevents any potential damage from moisture that may collect at the base. This setup allows the flowers to dry evenly. 

Close the container tightly and store it in a dry place where it won’t be moved around. This keeps moisture out, allowing the silica gel to dry the flowers properly. Leave them for one to two weeks; you can check them occasionally but try not to open the lid too often.

After waiting, carefully take the flowers out of the container. Gently brush off any remaining silica gel with a soft brush. Since the flowers are delicate, handle them with care.