Pressed flowers are especially suitable for flower pictures, as well as
decoration on note paper, place cards and many other items. Most foliage
and simple flowers with few petals press very well. Pansies are an
excellent flower for pressing at all stages of flower development. Ferns
make excellent pressed plants. Leaves and branches with foliage can be
presses to form plant materials with natural curve. In this process, the
faster flowers dry, the better they retain color. Flowers should not be
exposed to excessively high temperatures because high temperature may
turn the flowers brown.
Collection for Pressing
Flowers that are prime conditions are collected. Flowers with different
stages of development up to full maturity are used to get more variety
in design. Plants with fleshy stems and leaves as well as flowers with
very thin petals are avoided. Wilted materials are not pressed and
flowers that are flat press best.
Method
- Flowers and foliage are sandwiched between layers of an absorbent
material. This should be clean and hold the flowers firmly.
- Apply weight or pressure for at least 5 to 10 days or until the
plants are dried.
- Place in a warm, well-ventilated place.
- After the first week, check the absorbent material for excess
moisture, and replace the material if necessary.
- Reposition the flowers if needed.
- After drying store them in an airtight container.
Absorbent Materials
Flowers are generally placed between a non-glossy type of paper.
Newspaper, old telephone directories or catalogs are suitable. After
placing the flowers in the folded books, stack them several layers deep.
Place boards beneath and on top of the stack. Put the stack in a warm,
dry place with a heavy weight on top.
Another material suitable for pressing is cardboard. This forms a
system including cardboard, newspaper and blotter pads. Corrugated
cardboard is cut into sheets slightly larger than the sheets of folded
newspaper. Flowers are positioned on one side of opened newspaper. Then
the newspaper is closed and a sheet of blotter paper is placed on either
side. Then the layers are stacked and tied or taped together and placed
in a warm ventilated place.
Flowers for Pressing
The various flowers recommended for pressing are:
| Ageratum |
Cornflower, Bachelor's button |
| Johnny Jump-Up, Viola |
Primula |
| Celosia, Cockscomb |
Lily- of the Valley |
| Daffodil |
Queen Anne's Lace |
| Bleeding Heart |
Sweet Pea |
| Chrysanthemum |
Nemesia |
