Receiving flowers can be an emotional and exciting event. But even after all the plant food, watering and sunshine, cut flowers eventually begin to wither and wilt. Even if your flowers are past their prime, you can still use them to create a personal, colorful keepsake. Follow these simple steps.
To preserve your flowers, start by tying the stems together with a rubber band or string. Next, hang them upside down. Make sure they have plenty of room to breathe and won’t be damaged by pets or people. The flowers should hang for two to three weeks to ensure all the moisture has been expelled from their petals and stems.
Once the flowers are dry, you can put them in a vase or other decorative holder. Remember that dried flowers are extremely fragile and the petals and leaves could easily fall off if bumped or nudged.
Another preservation option is pressing. Gather old newspapers and heavy books and remove each flower’s stem before starting. Place newspaper on either side of the flowers, put one book on top and one beneath the flower and let sit. Be sure both surfaces are flat before stacking. Leave for a couple of weeks or until the moisture is completely gone You can frame or display your newly flattened flowers.
Whether drying or pressing, preserving your important flowers will allow you to keep the memory of the the event for which you received the blooms alive.