Dried
Flowers - Traditional Air-Drying Method
Traditional
air-drying is the easier and best method for preserving many flowers. Flowers
need only to have the leaves removed and to be hung upside down in a warm,
dry, dark place until the moisture content is evaporated. Avoid direct
sunlight which will cause the flowers to fade. |
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Flower
Tips:
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It is
the best to cut flowers used for drying just before they reach full bloom,
because they continue to open as they dry.
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Avoid
harvesting flowers too mature in development because they will generally
shed upon drying and will not hold up well in arrangements.
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Pick the
flowers on a dry day, after the morning dew has dried.
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Choose
healthy pieces and discard bruised or damaged materials.
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Instructions
For Traditional Air Drying Method:
|
 Remove
the lowest leaves from a stems. Cut the stems to even lengths and sort
them out according to thickness. |
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| To
avoid crushing, do not put to much herbs or flowers in a bunch. Using a
rubber band, bind the bottom ends together. |
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| Once
you have cut the stems, it is very important to remove them from the sunlight
as soon as possible. |
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| Stretch
a chain across a room just below the ceiling. (Plant materials hooked through
a chain link won't slip as they might on a slick wire). |
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| Hang
the flowers and herbs upside down in an airy, dry, warm and dark place
such as well-ventilated attics, garages or large closets. Drying flowers
in the dark is the most important factor in maintaining good color. Be
sure to supply good air circulation to prevent mold and speed drying. Orange,
blue and pink flowers will retain the best color when dried. |
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| Whole
rosebuds can be hang upside down in bunches of five to six roses with leaves
intact in a warm airy place to dry. Strips the lowest leaves from the stalks
before tie them in bunches. |
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| It
takes between one to three weeks for flowers to dry. The length of the
drying period will vary, depending on the temperature and humidity. Herbs
need between one to two weeks to dry. Check the plants every few days,
because if they remain in drying area to long, they my become to dry for
use. Dried materials should feel papery and firm, not limp or damp. Many
garden herbs and flowers dry extremely well. |
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| Store
your dried materials in covered boxes, airtight containers or in brown
paper bags. Keep flower and herb groups separate and be sure to label these
containers. Transfer prepared materials to a cooler location that remains
dry and dark. |
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| To
dry plants and flowers of which are heavier than their stems (for example
straw flowers, chrysanthemums etc.) use the plastic plant trays found at
hardware stores or greenhouses. Position the trays so their bottom surfaces
are several inches above the floor and drop the flower stems into the holes.
The flower heads, which won't fit through the holes, will dry in an open
position. |
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| Another
method for flowers with weak stems is florist's wire insert. Cut the plant
stem off, cca 1/2-inch below the flower and insert floral wire up through
the remaining stem and out through the center of the flower. Make a hook
at the top of the wire, and pull it back down into the flower, but not
all the way through. The stem will shrink and dry tightly around the wire.
Once the flower is dry, wrap floral tape around the stem and wire. |
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| To
dry flower heads just spread them on sheets of newspaper and leave them
in a warm airy place to dry completely. |
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| Use
clothes-drying racks to dry short-stemmed herbs, bundle them and hang them
on racks. |
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| The
dried material will have a natural fragrance but this will soon fade if
you do not use a fixative. Orris root is one of the best for pot pourri,
but you can also use other spices such as cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg,
cloves, orange peel, lemon peel or sea salt. |
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| Essential
oils are another vital fixative which will add depth and intensity of fragrance
to your dried material. Avoid contact with hands because oil has a very
strong perfume. Store the oils in the glass bottles, never in plastic bottles.
Use one drop at a time because if you use to much it will upset the real
fragrance. |
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Other
Methods To Preserve Plants:
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