How to Dry Flowers in a Few Easy Steps
Looking for ways to preserve a special bouquet or flowers from your garden? Learn how to dry flowers in a few easy steps.
Have you ever wanted to preserve a bridal bouquet, an anniversary arrangement, or flowers from the garden?
Drying flowers prolong their aesthetics and nostalgia. Plus they make beautiful budget-friendly home decor that can be used in many DIY projects.
Did you know there are LOTS of flowers that you are probably growing that are easy to dry?
With all of these summer blooms, it’s a great time to harvest and preserve them.
Wait until you see how easy it is to do!
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Drying Flowers is New For Me
I love flowers. They make me happy. And because I love flowers so much, I started growing them.
It started with one small garden, then progressed to so many more.
For years, I didn’t cut flowers from the garden because I thought they looked prettier in the borders.
I didn’t want to ruin the beds by snipping some to take inside. But for the last few years, I’ve been trying to change that mentality.
Because flowers are meant to be enjoyed both outside and inside our homes, right?
So I started growing a new flower garden with the purpose of cutting the blooms.
Designating one of the beds as a cut flower garden made it easier to grow flowers and harvest to bring inside.
This year, I grew many in the potager garden and LOVE how the garden looks don’t you?
As the garden blooms and changes throughout the season, I want to preserve some of my colorful blooms to use indoors.
Lately, I’ve been drying hydrangeas and tucking them in some vintage crates around my house. I love the pretty vintage blues and purple they add to my home decor.
Today, I want to preserve this gorgeous bouquet of orange roses to use in some vintage crocks with my fall decor.
Plus, I have some gorgeous dahlias that I’d love to keep around.
Whether it’s a beautiful wedding bouquet, corsage, or flowers from the garden, there are a few ways to dry flowers.
The best part?
It’s easy to do! And dried flowers can last a long time. So you can use them in different ways to decorate your home.
Air Drying Flowers Method
Since I prefer to do things the easy way, air-drying flowers is the simplest, most budget-friendly way to dry flowers.
It is a simple and effective way to preserve their beauty and create lovely dried floral arrangements.
This technique involves allowing the flowers to naturally dry out in the air without using any external heat sources or chemicals.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to air-dry flowers:
Supplies Needed to Air Dry Flowers
How to Air Dry Flowers
- Choose flowers that are in their peak condition, with no signs of wilting or damage. The best time to harvest flowers for drying is in the morning after the dew has evaporated but before the sun is too hot.
- Remove all of the leaves from the stems.
- Group a small number of flowers together and tie them in small bunches to ensure even drying. Secure the stems together with a rubber band or string, leaving enough space between each flower to allow for good airflow.
- Attach to a stick, hanger, or drying rack.
- Then hang to dry in a well-ventilated, dry, dark space for 3-4 weeks. Be patient and resist the urge to check on them too often, as disturbing the bundles could disrupt the drying process.
- After a couple of weeks, carefully inspect the flowers to see if they are completely dry and papery to the touch. If there is any remaining moisture, return them to their hanging position for more time.
- Once the flowers are thoroughly dry, remove them from the bundles and gently brush off any loose petals or debris. Store the dried flowers in airtight containers or use them to create stunning dried floral arrangements for various purposes, such as home decor or crafts.
- Spray with unscented hairspray to help them last.
Drying Flowers FAQs
Drying flowers is a timeless art that allows you to preserve the beauty of blooms and create delightful arrangements that last beyond their natural lifespan.
Whether you’re a seasoned floral enthusiast or a beginner looking to explore this fascinating technique, you likely have some questions about the process, best practices, and the types of flowers that are ideal for drying.
In this comprehensive FAQ section, we’ll chat about common questions to help you master the art of air drying and preserving flowers so that your floral creations stand the test of time.
How do you dry flowers and keep their color?
If you want to keep the best color, cut flowers before they are fully open. Tie and hang them upside down in a dry, but warm, dark spot. The more light it gets, the lighter the color retention.
I am going to hang these in my finished basement to complete the drying process. But a garage or small dark room would work equally as well.
Just make sure the space is well-ventilated, dark and dry.
Do dried flowers last forever?
While we can do our best to make them last, dried flowers don’t last forever.
You can do your best to extend their life, but I recommend replacing them when they don’t look as good.
When I got married, I kept my wedding bouquet for several years. They looked really good for a long time, but over time they started looking shabby.
The longevity of dried flowers depends on several factors, including the flower type, the drying process, and how they are stored and cared for over time.
Properly dried and well-preserved flowers can retain their beauty and shape for several months to a few years. Some flowers, like lavender, baby’s breath, and statice, tend to hold their color and shape better than others when dried.
On the other hand, delicate flowers with thin petals may not last as long and can become brittle or lose their color faster.
To extend the lifespan of dried flowers:
- Store them in a dry, cool, and dark place: Excessive moisture and exposure to sunlight can cause the flowers to deteriorate more quickly.
- Avoid touching them frequently: Handling dried flowers too much can lead to breakage or crumbling.
- Dust them gently: Occasionally dust the dried flowers with a soft brush or use a can of compressed air to keep them clean.
- Use a protective spray: You can apply a clear lacquer or hairspray to dried flowers to help preserve their color and protect them from damage.
Despite your best efforts, it’s essential to understand that over time, all dried flowers will naturally degrade and lose some of their vibrancy. However, with proper care and attention, you can enjoy the beauty of dried flowers for a significant amount of time and create stunning floral arrangements that add a touch of elegance to your living spaces.
How long do dried flowers last?
In general, dried flowers roughly last about 1-3 years. For best results, handle them with the most care. And try to keep them out of direct sunlight, wind, and humidity.
The lifespan of dried flowers can vary depending on several factors, including the flower type, the drying process, and how they are stored and cared for over time.
As mentioned earlier, some flowers hold up better when dried and can retain their color and shape for a more extended period. Lavender, baby’s breath, strawflowers, and statice are examples of flowers that tend to last longer when dried.
However, it’s essential to understand that, despite your best efforts, all dried flowers will naturally degrade over time. They may become more brittle, lose some color intensity, or experience some fading as the months go by.
So I think it’s a good idea to dry more and refresh them every so often.
What are the best flowers to dry?
There’s a pretty big list, but I have successfully dried the following blooms.
- roses
- globe thistle
- hydrangeas
- strawflower
- yarrow
- sedum
- herbs
- celosia
- lavender
- ageratum
- russian sage
- salvia
I recently dried dahlias and they looked so pretty! As an aside, I don’t dry hydrangeas like I do other flowers.
If you want to dry hydrangeas, this is the easiest way to do it.
What are dried flowers good for?
There are lots of great ways to use dried flowers in your home. Here are a few ideas:
- wreaths
- centerpieces
- arrangements
- potpourri
- candle-making projects
- gifts
- sachets
- baths
- cooking (some are edible in desserts or teas)
- home-made cleaning products
Should you spray dried flowers with hairspray?
To keep dried flowers in the best condition, hairspray can be applied to delicate dried flowers.
I recommend using it on wedding bouquets or corsages that have sentimental value to help them last longer.
Also, hairspray helps retain the shape better when moved around and prevents color fade over time.
How to Dry Flowers in a Few Easy Steps
Equipment
- 1 Scissors
- 1 Twine
- Stick
- Hairspray Unscented
Materials
- Flowers
- 1 Scissors
- 1 Twine
- Stick, hanger
- Hairspray Unscented
Instructions
- Choose flowers that are in their peak condition, with no signs of wilting or damage.
- Remove all of the leaves from the stems.
- Group a small number of flowers together and tie them in small bunches to ensure even drying. Secure the stems together with a rubber band or string, leaving enough space between each flower to allow for good airflow.
- Attach to a stick, hanger, or drying rack.
- Then hang to dry in a well-ventilated, dry, dark space for 3-4 weeks. Be patient and resist the urge to check on them too often, as disturbing the bundles could disrupt the drying process.
- After a couple of weeks, carefully inspect the flowers to see if they are completely dry and papery to the touch. If there is any remaining moisture, return them to their hanging position for more time.
- Once the flowers are thoroughly dry, remove them from the bundles and gently brush off any loose petals or debris. Store the dried flowers in airtight containers or use them to create stunning dried floral arrangements for various purposes, such as home decor or crafts.
- Spray with unscented hairspray to help them last.
Where can I buy dried flowers?
If you’d rather skip the step of drying flowers, there are a few retailers that sell gorgeous dried flowers as well as other boho home decor.
Here are some of my GREAT go-to sources for dried flowers.
If you want to make your own arrangements but don’t want to dry flowers yourself, these dried flowers are incredibly beautiful.
And there are so many options to choose from.
Where can I buy dried flower home decor?
To get the boho look without the work, check out these gorgeous pre-made options.
Garden Supplies I Use
I’m often asked about the garden supplies and tools that I use most. From pruners to deer repellents, here are some of my favorites in no particular order.
- I like to use a good-quality garden soil, compost, and perlite when planting.
- I have used this deer repellent with great success. But now, I’m all about this deer repellent that is systemic instead of topical. This means the plant takes it in as opposed to it just smelling bad.
- Hands down this is my favorite hand-weeding tool. You can use to get underneath roots, loosen soil, and it cuts down on the weeding time because you work much faster.
- But I also love this long, stand-up weeding tool to really get around roses from afar.
- I like to use THIS ORGANIC FERTILIZER for roses because the blooms are more prolific and it’s organic.
- You’ll need a sharp set of pruners when working with plants and flowers. I buy a few so I can stash them around.
- Where pest and disease problems are concerned, I generally use this insecticidal soap or neem oil to help control infestations depending on the issue.
- This is my favorite set-and-forget slow-release fertilizer for houseplants, annuals, and container gardens.
- Whenever I stake my peonies or other plants, I generally use these grow through garden supports because they work really well and keep the blooms upright.
Looking for More Flower Garden Ideas?
If you love flowers and want to grow more in your garden, here are some posts that will get you on your way.
From tucking in flowering plants that are deer-resistant or ones that attract more butterflies and hummingbirds, to shade-loving flowers like the lenten rose, these posts will get you on your way to growing a garden that will bring joy for years to come.
Here are more cut flower and cottage garden growing tips, tricks, and design inspiration.
- 5 Quick Ways to Grow a Cottage Garden
- Easy-Care Cottage Garden Ideas
- Flower Garden Ideas for the Front Porch
- Why and How to Divide Perennials
- Perennials vs Annuals
- Flowers that Bloom in Midsummer
- How My Cottage Garden Grew in 2021
- Cut Flower Gardening for Beginners
- The Complete Guide to Roses Care
- The Basics of Hydrangea Care
- Everblooming Cottage Garden Design Ideas
- The Secret to Growing an Everblooming Cottage Garden
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