Flowers have lots of moisture in them. When they are put into a drying
mixture, the moisture draws and the flowers dries out. Drying of flowers
keeps these beautiful flowers alive and they don't get moldy. But drying
flowers emphasize imperfections. When drying a flower, many flowers lose
their color or texture and at times colors fade. Flowers that have
started to wilt or die are not suitable for drying.
Storing florals properly is very important. A good amount of time has
been spend to dry them, so it is necessary to protect them from all
possible hazards. Wrap small bunches of the flower in tissue paper and
tie the tissue closed with a little string or raffia. Store them in box,
stacking them very carefully rotating the floral ends. Floral boxes are
also available that are best for storing dried flowers. They can even be
well packed in poly bags, window box, or in a sachet.
They are stored in airtight container to prevent it from moisture and
sunlight. Place them in a dark, dry place and a well-ventilated place.
Preserving flowers is a wonderful way to recycle natural materials and
enjoy them year around by arranging them in vases, creating wreaths,
candle holders and other home decorations. Flowers are not always
available year around and preserving them allows enjoying a larger range
of flowers in and out of season. To preserve flowers a drop of bleach is
added to water. Some flowers are then bleached to dry them and color is
injected into them at a later stage.
Tips on Preserving Dry Flowers
- Dried flowers should be kept out of direct sunlight and a path
where people don't brush against them.
- Don't place them in the path of forced air heat. The hot, dry air
just dries them out too much.
- Dried flowers can last up to several years if cared properly.
Utilize a clear acrylic sealer to preserve them.
- They should be kept fresh and dust free using simple misting with
fresh water.
- Loofa sponges should not be harvested until the vine dies back
and the fruit completely dies.
- Don't dispose off rose petals or other fragment flowers. Instead
dry them.
- Hydrangea Flowersas with woody stems dry beautifully. Stand them
upright in a vase with little water, not much. Let the flowers soak
up all of the water and remain in the vase until they are totally
dried.
- Cut strawflowers intended for dried flower arrangements when the
blooms are only half-open. Tie small bundles of the flowers
together, and hang them upside down in a well-ventilated place to
dry.
- During the winter, dry flowers over a heat vent. Your flowers
will retain a brighter color.
- Flowers to be dried are dyed with absorption dyes before pressing
or drying to compensate for fading.Bleaching agent is essential to
remove contamination from the blooms.
- Ferns and foliage that are prone to fading are placed into floral
absorption dye before drying.
- Add dye to warm water solution and put freshly cut stem in the
water and allow them to sit a few hours. They come out great and no
more worries of fading.
- To reduce brittleness in the pressed fern or foliage, add a
little glycerin or fabric softener to the solution.
- There are a variety of perennials that tolerate warm shade in
hotter locations. These include bears breeches, hellebores, and
florist cyclamen.
- Broadleaf evergreens are excellent choices for dappled shade.
- To encourage lots of bright green peppers, feed them with Epsom
salts before flowering.
- Bacteriostats inhibit the formation of detrimental build up
within floral solutions and are an integral part of all preserving
solutions.
