There is something wonderful about receiving flowers. Although they eventually wither and die, nothing can replace the overwhelming feeling of having to receive as beautiful as such.

However, no matter their beauty and price, fresh blooms eventually wither and die. Despite your best efforts, you can’t keep their freshness forever. On the bright side, however, you have a better option than throwing them away– especially with the range of ways to preserve flowers alongside their grandeur and sentimental value.

Whether it’s your bridal bouquet or an exceptional flower arrangement from your better half, refer to this guide on how to expertly preserve your fresh flowers.

 

7 Ways to Preserve Flowers

1. Drying Flowers in Vase

For an effortless way to dry flowers, place them in a vase and soak the stalks in a few inches of water and leave it until all the water is evaporated. If done right, the flowers should be upright but dry. This method works best for blooms with hardy stalks such as hydrangea and baby’s breath.

2. Drying Flowers in Air

Air drying flowers are the most traditional way to preserve them. Tie the flowers into a bundle, and hang it upside down in a well-ventilated area and out of direct sunlight. This method should dehydrate the flowers in a few weeks. But, it will leave them brittle so you should handle them with additional care.  

3. Drying Flowers by Pressing

Pressed flowers make for beautiful wall arts and home décor. In this method, flowers are traditionally placed in between the pages of a telephone book. Then, the book is weighed down with heavy objects to keep the flowers flat. Once they are dry, you can squirt them with hairspray to strengthen them.

4. Drying Flowers by Microwaving

Instead of waiting for weeks, microwave drying gives you beautifully-preserved blooms in minutes. Bury your flowers in a microwavable container of sand that will absorb moisture from the flowers. Microwave them on a high setting for about 3 minutes or until they are as dry as you want them to be.

NOTE: Like any shortcut, there is a chance that this method may not end with consistent or favorable results.

5. Drying Flowers using Silica Gel

If you want your flowers to look the way they did on the day you received them, try dehydrating them with silica gel. Place your blooms in a container of silica gel and leave it on for a few days or a week. Similar to sand, the granules can dry up the moisture, except they can also preserve their vibrant colors.

6. Drying Flowers using Glycerin

Alternatively, if you want to keep the immaculate form of your flowers, you can use glycerin so they will not dry out. Soak the stems of flowers in a mixture of two parts of warm water and one part of glycerin. This method will give you flowers that are supple and don’t get wrinkled.

NOTE: Although glycerin helps keep the fresh look of the flowers, it has the tendency to fade their color with time. So, you might consider adding dyes to the solution. Further, glycerin can also be expensive.

7. Drying Flowers by Freezing

Freeze drying flowers is a process done by a professional or your local florist. It drains the moisture out of the petals, resulting in lovely and timeless flowers that keep their vivid colors and scent intact. Although it can be expensive, it promises to end with a long-lasting result.

 

These drying methods can turn your flowers from ephemera into treasured keepsakes. Experiment with each method or a combination of two to determine which ones can give you the best results.

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