For Harvesting of flowers and Air
Drying method of drying flowers -> Click here
Don't air-dry all types of flowers. Preserve fragile and moist blooms dessicants such as
silica gel or a borax-sand mix. Silica gel isn't a true gel, but a granulated chemical
desiccant composed partly of silicon. You can buy silica at florist shops or hardware
stores. The good news is that it can be reused indefinitely. Most silica gel products are
blue when dry enough to use, but turn pink when they've absorbed moisture. (Some silica
products are white.) If the silica you have has turned pink, dry it out by baking it in a
200oF oven until it turns blue, and cool it before using or storing in an airtight
container.
Many dried flower enthusiasts report that borax crystals work just as well and are much
less expensive than silica gel.
|
Drying flowers using Silica-gel
Silica-gel drying is done in shallow, airtight, plastic (or glass) containers or
trays. Make sure that the flowers aren't crowded. Spread the flowers out, faceup, on a
1-inch (minimum depth) bed of crystals. Carefully spoon or sprinkle more silica on top
until you've completely covered the flowers with at least another inch of crystals.
Drying flowers with single-petal structures, such as daisies, facedown is another
technique. To dry flowers facedown, create a small mound for the flower head, place the
flower head facedown on it, |
 |
|
and add silica over the flower until it is
covered. Flowers can be almost touching, and because similar kinds of flowers dry at the
same rate, you may wish to group similar blooms in the same container. Seal the container,
and don't disturb it for three to four days.
Remove delicate blossoms very carefully. Shake or brush off the crystals lightly with a
soft artist's paintbrush. Leaving flowers in desiccant too long makes them very fragile,
so remove flowers right away once you've determined that they're dry enough.
Using a Microwave Oven to Dry Flowers
The latest and fastest method to dry flowers is to use a combination of silica gel and a
microwave oven. You can use layers of paper towels rather than desiccant, but results may
vary. For more reliable drying, prepare your flowers using the standard silica procedure
described above, and then microwave them. To get truer color, dry the flowers one at a
time to avoid overdrying them. You may need to switch to a smaller container if your usual
one doesn't fit in the microwave oven, but make sure it is microwave-safe.
The oven should be set on medium to low power, about 350 watts. For most ovens with
settings from 1 to 10, this means the 4 or 5 power setting. The defrost function is too
low. Seal the container, and microwave the flowers for 3 minutes. Allow at least 15
minutes for the flowers to cool, and examine them carefully. If the flowers need more
drying, repeat for 30-second intervals, but don't forget the cooling period. A microwave
with a turntable may dry the flowers more evenly than one without turntables.
Anemones, chrysanthemums, marigolds, pansies, peonies, and roses are best suited to
microwave drying, but small, finely textured or delicate flowers are not.
How to Arrange Dried Flowers Containers
Everything begins with the container. The general rule is that the container should be
about one-third the height of the final arrangement. Any lightweight container should be
weighted at the bottom with a flat stone and filled with green florists' foam to about an
inch from the top. Then, you're ready to get creative.
Once you have arranged the basic shape, start adding stems of accent flowers by pushing
them down through the filler. Don't worry if you can't get every stem into the foam. Most
can just "float" in the arrangement. To avoid a polka-dot look, try several
stems together for bold blocks of color. You needn't use all of the listed flowers; just
balance texture and contrast. Most important, loosen up, and don't overwork it. When
you first think your arrangement is complete, it's time to stop.
How to Store Dried Flowers
Once dried, store your flowers in a covered wicker box or similar container that allows
air circulation. Never use plastic. Cardboard boxes are suitable, but cut several holes in
the sides and top. Fragile, shatter-prone flowers can be made more durable by using a
spray-on fixer. The fixers don't dry the flowers. However, they coat and strengthen
brittle stems and blooms, and dried flower arrangers recommend them. Several brands are
available at craft stores; however, ordinary hair spray reportedly works equally well.
After the spray treatment, wrap each bunch loosely in tissue paper or newspaper, and lay
it flat in the container. Put heavy flowers on the bottom, and don't pack the box too
tightly. Keep your storage boxes in the same cool, dry areas you used for drying. |
