Florals are a staple of spring and summer home décor, bringing light and life to any space. But why leave them behind in winter? Dried florals create stunning seasonal accents with tons of texture and festive hues. Leave the poinsettias and greenery behind this season and see for yourself!
Planting & Planning
Drying flowers takes some, okay a lot, of planning ahead. It’s important to think about what you’d like to dry when you’re purchasing seeds and plants for an upcoming growing season. Plus, different flowers are suited for different drying methods. Some household staples, like astilbe, carnations, and lavender, air-dry best. Others, like black-eyed Susans, zinnias, and peonies, will hold up better in a desiccant.
Don’t forget about seed heads and greenery! Variety adds visual interest to an arrangement and lets each component shine. Consider greenery, like eucalyptus and holly, and seed heads, like locust and allium.
Drying
The first step is finding the perfect flower! Harvest your flowers when they’re not quite in full bloom and cut them using a pruner in the early morning before they become wilted from the heat and sun. Avoid flowers with bruising or damage from insects. If you aren’t planning on processing them immediately, place them in a vase of water to keep them hydrated until you’re ready. You might also want to use a thorn and leaf stripper to remove any unwanted plant material. Leaves will increase the drying time and will shrivel up during the drying process.
Now it’s time to dry! There are three main methods: air drying, desiccant drying, and flower pressing.
Air drying is relatively simple and requires very little special equipment. Flowers can be hung to dry or set upright in an empty vase. Either way, it’s important that they’re placed in a dark and dry space with good ventilation. Drying may take upwards of two weeks, check progress occasionally.
Desiccants are drying mediums that may work well for flowers with delicate blooms. Silica sand is a common desiccant that can be found online and in crafting stores. Another option is a mixture of borax and cornmeal in equal parts. With colored hydrangeas in particular, borax and cornmeal dries the flowers just as effectively while maintaining a richer color than silica sand.
Take proper health and safety precautions while using borax and silica sand. Read and carefully adhere to all instructions on product packaging.
To dry flowers in desiccant, first add some medium to a large tray or bucket. Arrange the flowers and plant materials in a single layer over the desiccant. Next, using a paper cup, gently scoop and pour medium over the flowers until fully covered.
Since it’s more difficult to gauge dryness with this method, it’s important to label each tray with the date that the flowers were added. Wait at least one week until checking. The stem should be hard and crispy. If you’re unsure, gently unearth a flower. Some plants with thicker stems may need 10-14 days in the medium to dry. If more time is needed, return the flower to the desiccant.
When they’re ready, sturdy flowers can be pulled out, while more delicate flowers may need to be removed with care. Keep a small paint brush on hand to brush excess medium from petals and leaves.
The last main method of flower drying is pressing. Pressing works best for flowers that are easy to compress, like pansies and bell flowers. Thicker blooms, like roses, may prove to be more challenging. While flower presses are certainly an option, in a pinch, a book will do just fine. Arrange your flowers or petals between two pieces of parchment paper encased in the pages of a heavy book. You might also apply additional pressure by stacking more books or heavy objects on top. In 2-4 weeks, you’ll have stunning dried flowers.1
To store your dried flowers, keep them in a dry room in a box with tissue paper separating them.
Using Dried Flowers
Paper-thin pressed flowers add a heartfelt touch to seasonal greeting cards and gift wrapping. Plus, they can also be fun alternatives to confetti in homemade holiday crackers.2
Use voluminous dried flowers to craft festive garlands, globe ornaments, arrangements, and more. Add them to indoor wreaths and swags for a touch of color and texture.
Looking for inspiration? Check out our Natural Holiday Trees during WPS Garden of Lights or whenever the Garden is open this season! Featuring dried flower creations hand-picked by the Garden’s Horticulture Team, they’re truly a magical sight!
Sources
- Baumann, Crissy. “How to Press Flowers: A Complete Guide for Beginners.” First Day of Home, June 23, 2023. https://www.firstdayofhome.com/how-to-press-flowers/.
- Richardson, Melissa, and Amy Fielding. “What to Do with Pressed Flowers.” House & Garden, December 22, 2022. https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/pressed-flowers.
