Burying Flowers

Flowers can be dried by burying them in a plant-drying mixture. The drying agent in the mixture helps support the flower while removing moisture, preserving the flower's shape and form. The most common mixtures used are borax mixtures and silica gel.

Borax Mixtures
Borax detergent combined with cornmeal or sand is an expensive material for drying flowers. This mixture is used for flowers that are less stiff.

Silica Gel
Silica gel is fairly expensive moisture-absorbing desiccant. It is an excellent product for drying flowers. It is lightweight, dries flowers faster than borax mixtures do, and can be used over and over again if dried properly. It must be kept in airtight containers at all times. Silica gels absorbs moisture and so the crystal in the gel change color.

Containers
Flowers dried in borax mixtures should be left uncovered during the drying process. Low cardboard boxes with tight, strong bottoms are ideal. This allows air circulation.

Flowers dried in silica gel must be placed in airtight containers because silica gel absorbs moisture from the air. Candy tins, plastic containers, coffee cans, large-mouth jars, or any other container with a tight fitting lid may be used.

Wiring
Two methods of wiring are used:

• Hook Wiring- Hook wiring is used for daisies, marigolds, zinnias, or other flowers with soft centers. To hook wire a flower a prime gauge wire is used and is pushed upward through the center of the stem, if hollow. Push it out of the top of the flower, bend a small hook in the end of the wire and pull it back into the flower, hooking the center. Make sure that the small hook is well hidden in the flower's center.
• Cross Wiring - To cross wire a flower, push the wire through the base of the flower at right angles to the stem. The wire is centered in the flower base, and both ends are then bent down to form a short stem.

Methods

• Place a layer of drying material in the bottom of the container about 1 to 2 inches deep.
• Bend the wire stems to the side or curl up.
• Place the flower on the layer of material in the bottom of the container, push wire stem down into material.
• Gently work the base of the flower into the material so it is well situated.
• Sift the material over the plates, making sure that all petals remain in place as the material is added.
• If any petals are bent, use a toothpick or similar item to reposition them.
• Continue to add material until each flower is entirely covered.
• After all flowers have been added and covered, lift the container and tap it gently on the base to help settle the material.
• After tapping add more drying material to cover the exposed petals.
• Store it until used.

Flowers for Burying
There are a number of flowers that undergo the burying process for drying. Some of the flowers are: