Drying Vs. Pressing
If you’re unfamiliar with the world of dry flowers, the term ‘pressing’ may loosely come to mind. Pressing flowers is technically a way of drying flowers. All pressed flowers are dried but not all dried flowers are pressed. This process uses heavy weight to completely remove any moisture and flatten flowers among other floral parts. The result is a paper thin specimen that can be used for a multitude of crafts and decor projects.
Traditionally when drying flowers we refer to a dehydration that retains shape, colour and even scent for a prolonged period of time. This method circumnavigates both wilting and fading and means that you can enjoy the result for years to come.
How to Dry Flowers
It may seem intimidating at first. And there are several complicated methods to achieving the same goal. From silica gels and dehydrators to baking and even microwaving. For us, we prefer the simplest method: hanging flowers upside down to dry. And you just need a few simple things to get started:
A Dark Room with Ventilation
Sunlight bleaches all in its path. To keep colours as bold and bright as possible select a room or location that has very little to no natural light. Often, the rooms in our homes that meet this criteria however, are not particularly well-ventilated. If that’s your case, consider a small fan that can run intermittently. The aim is to dry quickly to help prevent any mold or mildew buildup. A dehumidifier can also be helpful in removing excess moisture from the air.
A Line and Rubber Bands/Twine/Wire
You’ll need something to hang your flowers on; this allows them to be fully suspended all around, allowing the entire shape to be retained. And for the stems to stay straight and rigid. In comparison to maybe hanging a bouquet on a wall; where they’ll end up flattening partially. Consider the amount you’ll be drying and prepare accordingly. You’ll then need rubber bands or twine to hold a bunch of flowers together; keeping in mind that a smaller bunch in theory will dry better than a bigger one, and finally a way to affix the bunch to your line.
A Good Broom
Depending on the stage of development that you harvest your flowers, some can still drop petals, seed parts, and other floral parts. It can get a little bit messy, but it’s a small price to pay for your finished product.
When are Dry Flowers, Dry?
The million dollar question. And the answer has a million variables. The fact of the matter is that every plant will take a different amount of time to dry. The moisture content can differ dramatically, your geographical location and even your drying room can have an impact on your timing. As mass and moisture are contributing factors, the lower both are the less time it takes. Something like lavender, maybe a week or so, whereas roses closer to a month. To check, simply give a gentle squeeze at the neck of the stem, or whatever section is the thickest. There should be little to no give. If you’re unsure, another week can only help.
Julie notes, “once dry we look to cardboard boxes for storage if you’re not using your dry flowers immediately. There are specially formulated bins and boxes, but our success here again lies in the simplest, and cost-effective choice. If you are using them for decoration throughout your home, the same rule applies to direct light, avoid it if you can. The less light your dried flowers are exposed to the longer before they begin to fade.”
We wish you all the luck should you attempt this beautiful and rewarding practise. On a future installment of the Wild Blog, we’ll dive into troubleshooting and dealing with common problems. If you don’t already, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
