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An
interesting development in drying flowers is the use of a microwave
oven.
Because your object is to dry flowers as fast as possible in order to
retain
their natural color and form, the microwave oven can be a really "magic
tool." A flower that might take five days to dry with the conventional
silica gel method or three days to dry using preheated silica gel will
dry in just one minute in the microwave.
Drying
flowers with such speed is really great advantage and with that method
you will be able to accumulate an assortment of blooms for an
arrangement
in a relatively short time. Another advantage is that you will be able
to dry many flowers while they are at the peak of their growing season.
For example, if you dry a rose with the microwave method, you will know
within few minutes if you have successfully preserved that rose. If for
any reason you are not satisfied with your rose, you may immediately
dry
another rose, because you have time to do that.
How
To Dry Flowers In The Microwave
When drying
flowers in the microwave, it is best to use a cardboard box and place
it
on an upturned saucer to raise the box so the moisture can escape from
its base. Select a box at least 2 inches taller than the flower you are
drying. The best is if you dry only one flower at a time. One reason
for
this is that the less heat the flowers are subjected to, the better
color
will result. The more flowers placed in the microwave oven at the same
time, the longer amount of time they will have to be in the oven. The
increased
amount of time could cause a severe color loss. Another advantage to
drying
a single flower at a time is that you will be able to correct the
timing,
if necessary, without losing more than one flower.
Place
one inch of the warm silica gel in the bottom of the box. If you are
drying
flowers in the face down position, add a two teaspoons of silica gel in
the center, forming a small mound. The mound will support the flower,
allowing
it to dry in a natural cup shape rather than flat. Slowly pour
spoonfuls
of gel against the sides of the cup, turning and tilting the cup as you
pour. The silica gel will slide down the cup sides and under each petal
without causing undue weight on the flower. Continue adding silica gel
until the entire flower is covered, leaving at least 2 inches from the
top of the silica gel to the top of the container, so none of the gel
will
pop out during drying.
It
is good idea to take careful notes about your experiment so that you
have
the same success next time (or will know to avoid that particular
pitfall!).
For example if you test white rose and it become rather beige in color,
your rose probably contained less moisture than normal, due to lack of
rain, and thus will have to be dried at half the heat used. Timing can
be cut more than once until you are pleased with the color. Continual
experimentation
is the secret to determining the exact length of time for drying
flowers
in the microwave oven, since even the same species can differ in
moisture
content on different days.
When
the time is up, take your plant out of the microwave oven and let it
stand
for twenty to thirty minutes. At that point, check for crispness of the
petal tips by gently pouring the silica gel from the box until the tips
are exposed. If they feel papery dry, just continue pouring the gel
from
the cup until you can easily pick up the flower by the stem.
Another
big advantage of drying flowers in the microwave oven is that you will
not need to purchase a great deal of silica gel. When you are using
regular
method to dry with silica gel it is tied up for many days at a
time,
which prevents you from using it to dry additional flowers, instead
when
you are preserving flowers in the microwave oven, you are able to reuse
the silica gel usually within the hour.
When
drying flowers in the microwave do not cover the box with a lid. As you
collect your dried items, store them carefully in a shallow box. They
should
be kept in a warm, dry place.
Flowers
dried in this way can look very nearly fresh and less 'dried' than
those
dried by the air method. They should be handled with care. If your home
is prone to a little humidity, then make sure the items are sprayed
with
polyurethane varnish before using them for your arrangement.
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