Drying flowers is not only a sign that they will die, but it is another way of appreciating their beauty, although it takes some effort to take care of dried flowers. Flowers typically dry, and when they do, it does not mean you have to dump them.
As we all know, flowers are fragile and will change their appearance over time. This is the course of nature, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. However, there is something you can do to make it unforgettable.
People might be wondering why you have to keep a dried flower rather than buying a new one. It would save you a lot of time to buy a new, fresh bunch of flowers, healthy and alive, rather than taking care of a dried one.
Some flowers might have some sentimental value attached to them -depending on different people. So, some people choose to keep the flowers even though they are dried. It is just one of the few ways for people to keep a memory alive even though it’s just a flower.
If you have flowers with sentimental value attached to them, there are easy ways to take care of them once they’re dried. Whether they came from your wedding day, or someone special, or perhaps some or other special event from which you want a keepsake. Happily, these dried flowers will last for a very long time to preserve your memories – if take care of the right way.
Here are some helpful and straightforward dried flower care tips:
1. Fluff Them Gently
Dried flowers, especially those in a bouquet, are slightly pressed due to aging making them look thin. Fluffing them might recover that depth in them and add extra elegance to your dried flowers. But it would be best if you did it gently because they are very delicate.
For beginners, fluffing your dried flowers might be tricky since you do not know the amount of force to use. The best way to do it is to gently start applying a small amount of pressure and then slowly fluff the flower. By then, you should get used to it and do it perfectly.
The reason for fluffing the dried flowers is you want to restore their original shape as much as possible. They have a better appearance if fluffed a little bit rather than being slightly pressed. They would lose that charming and natural appearance if not fluffed.
Now, this might be a crucial task in making your dried flowers appear beautiful but not in taking care of them. Fluffing your dried flowers is optional. If fluffing might damage your dried flowers, then that is not taking care of them, and in that case, it is better not to fluff them.
2. Cut The Stems, If Needed
Cutting the stems of your flowers, especially those with long stems, is a better idea for storing purposes. Those annoying long stems might cause problems when placing them in a small container, especially if you only plan to keep the flowers.
Another purpose for cutting the stems is to be creative about your dried flowers. You can alter their heights to varying lengths, and the display will show improved creativity by this. Thus, you can also unlock your artistic side while taking care of your dried flowers.
When cutting the stems, you must use sharp objects like scissors or cutters. Using dull scissors or knives takes an additional amount of force to cut the stem, and it might shake the flowers too much, leading to the falling of the petals. Remember, dried flowers are very delicate, thus handle them slowly and gently.
But long stems are not always the hero of the piece when taking care of your dried flowers. They are helpful if you want to place your dried flowers in a vase and use the stem as the foundation. Then your beautiful flowers are visible on top of the vase. It’s simply a matter of preference regarding storing them; hence cut the stems if needed.
3. Place Them Upright In A Vase
Placing a dried flower in a vase is similar to using healthy and live flowers. No one is putting their flowers upside down in a vase, especially dried flowers!
The challenge, perhaps, that is left for you is the style of vase you want to use. A transparent vase might not be a bad idea, although you can still choose from thousands of options out there.
Before that, you must elevate your sense of creativity because not all types of dried flowers are stored in a vase. It all depends on the type of dried flowers you have. For example, dried roses or flowers with long stems might be perfect for placing in a vase.
There are also other types of dried flowers that look better stored in small containers. All kinds of flowers can be stored in small containers, especially if you only want to keep the flower heads without the stems.
That is just another idea – it all depends on you.
The most popular option to store dried flowers nowadays is by using resin. Liquid when heated and getting rock-hard after a while, it’s transparent, reliable, and affordable – therefore making it the most popular method of preserving dried flowers.
Firstly, to utilize this method, pour some resin mixture in a mold to form a layer for about ½ inch to 1 inch thick. Then, let it dry and place the dried flower on top, pouring the remaining resin until the dried flower is completely covered. There you have the basics of it!
However, the best thing about using resin is that you can spice it up by putting glitter or gold sheets, or whatever, to enhance the look. The downside of this method is, it can only cater to a single flower with the stem already cut. So, it might not be the best option for you if you want to keep a whole bouquet of dried flowers, but no one is preventing you from doing both!
4. Do Not Water The Dried Flowers
You have to understand that dried flowers are quite the opposite of fresh, healthy flowers. That means to say they do not need water because they are already dried. Watering them will not bring them back to life.
Water will cause their stems to be moldy and weak and eventually result in the dried flowers decaying and perishing faster than usual. In short, they do not need water to stay alive because they are already dead.
By now, and funny to say, you might be thinking of switching many of the contents of your garden flower beds from fresh and healthy flowers to dried flowers! Don’t be tempted – let nature take its course!
Enough of the fun side; what dried flowers need is a place where they can dry peacefully. Taking care of them is helping them increase the longevity of their drying process. The following steps are the information you need to do so.
5. Do Not Place Them Under Direct Sunlight
The reason behind this is that direct sunlight quickens their drying process. Typically, flowers naturally dry, especially if they are kept under direct sunlight. This natural drying process will happen to all flowers, and placing them out of direct sunlight will slow their drying process.
For example, if you place your newly-bought bouquet or other flowers under direct sunlight, the flowers will shortly show signs of drying. Yet, this does not mean that flowers will not dry when kept out of direct sunlight. Drying flowers is a natural process. Placing your drying flowers away from direct sunlight will slow down that process, which is very important to some people who want to hold on to their flowers for more extended periods.
6. Keep Them In A Solitary Place
The next important thing you have to do is keep them in a solitary place – you don’t want people moving in and out of the room. If put in a place where there is much action, there is a higher tendency for the flowers to become moved or damaged somehow.
Unfortunately, in such a situation, those delicate plants will suffer severe damages. For example, a dining table or a living room table is not the best place to put your dried flowers as people frequently gather in these places. Hence, it would be best to look for a specific area in the house where they are safe to store.
Your room is a perfect place to start because other people do not usually enter your room except you. Put the dried flowers around the corners to ensure that people will not touch them.
Always remember that it is essential to keep them out of reach from other people. It’s the best way to prevent your dried flowers from getting damaged due to human activity since you obviously cannot keep your eyes on them all the time.
If you want to showcase their beauty, then you might as well place them inside a glass-fronted cabinet. That way, people can enjoy the look of your dried flowers without touching them.
7. Proper Aeration Is A Must
The next thing to observe is the flow of air. It doesn’t mean that you have to place them near a window where there is direct airflow. Take note, dried flowers are delicate, and a sudden increase in the wind could remove all the dried petals.
You might be wondering why they need air and not water. The purpose of proper aeration is to prevent the dried flowers from being near humidity. Temperature fluctuations happen all the time, and this might result in capturing moisture.
Note that even the smallest amount of moisture could mean tremendous disaster to the dried flowers if left untreated. Sometimes, dried flowers in vases capture water inside, making it difficult to notice.
Hence, placing them in an air-sealed cabinet might not be a good idea. Temperature fluctuations may occur, and your dried flowers may develop moisture. Therefore, they must receive proper aeration to keep them dry all the time.
Conclusion
It might sound like a lot of requirements, but they are essential and straightforward. What makes it exciting is that you can practice your creative skills. Now, you can take care of your dried flowers without worrying about anything; follow all the steps.
Don’t forget to take pleasure in the process. The most important requirement is your happiness. Enjoy!
Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer
Edited by
Patricia Godwin
