How to Air Dry Flowers (using everyday household items)

1. To help your flowers maintain their color during the drying process, it is important that you remove them from sunlight as soon as they’re cut. Strip excess foliage from your flowers and cut the stems to your desired length but no shorter than six inches. Rubber band bunches of stems together if you would like to hang a bouquet, or leave the stems be if you’d like to hang the flowers individually.

2. Use a string, secure the bottom end of the flower’s stem to a hanger. Once secure, hang flowers upside down to dry. Leave your flowers in a dark, dry area with good circulation for a good two to three weeks and make sure not to remove them until they are completely dry.

3. Remove the flowers from the hangers and spray them with hairspray to give them some extra protection. Dried flowers don’t like sunlight or extreme heat, so try to find homes for them in more shaded areas.  You can now hang your dried flowers around the house as you please, remove the petals and make potpourri, or use them in a crafts-related project to make a thoughtful gift for someone else.

How to Dry Flowers with a Microwave (requires items found in craft stores)

1. Placed the flowers in a microwave-safe container. Please do not use a dish you might want to use for food again after this project.

2. Depending on the size of the blossoms, cover the bottom of the container with about an inch or two of silica gel to help the flowers maintain their shape,  Place your flowers in the gel with the flower blossom opening upward, and then gently pour gel over the flower to ensure all petals are positioned to dry properly. You can flatten your petals If you are not careful with the gel. Your silica gel can be used over and over again.

2. Place your uncovered container in the microwave. Microwave temperature and time will vary from flower to flower. Roses can withstand more heat while daisies prefer lower temperatures. So find the right recipes by trial and error. A safe bet is to start the microwave on one or two levels above defrost for 2-5 minutes. Start with a short amount of time, checking your flower’s progress periodically. If it doesn’t seem to be drying, you can increase heat and time accordingly.

3. Once your flowers have dried, open the microwave and immediately cover the container. Remove the covered container from the microwave, open the top a quarter of a centimeter, and let it sit for 24 hours. Once the flowers have cooled, clean off the petals with a fine brush and mist them with an acrylic spray.

	Dried Roses for Arrangements

1. For best results, we recommend that you arrange the roses in a vase with water and floral preservative, as you would with a regular arrangement.

2. Let the roses open up until they are approximately halfway open.  if you do not let them open at all, you end up with very small buds (if this is what you are looking for, proceed with the following instructions).

3. After you have allowed the roses to partially open, remove them from the vase, tie a string around the bottom of the stems and hang the bunch upside down in a dry place.  It will, depending on the humidity, take about two weeks for the roses to completely dehydrate.  You will know when they are dry enough by gently squeezing the buds.  If they are still soft then they are not yet dry.

4. When the buds are quite firm, you may untie them and arrange as desired.  It is possible to spray the buds with a ‘hardener’ (available at many craft stores), or hairspray, after they have dried.  Doing this will help preserve the flowers and prevent crumbling.

Potpourri

1. Collect petals from the rose stem as the flower reaches fully open maturity, but before they turn brown.  Dry them until crisp on a screen, cookie sheet or any flat surface.

2. For each quart of petals you collect, add 1 tablespoon of fixative.  Dry lavender, oakmoss, sandalwood or orrisroot are good choices and are available in chopped form at many herb and spice shops or drug stores.

3. Add your favorite complimentary spice. Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, dried citrus peel and vanilla beans all make excellent choices.

4. Add a few drops of essential oil (an aroma additive), or your favorite perfume.

5. Seal your potpourri mixture in a jar allowing it to mellow for approximately 10 days.  To properly blend the ingredients, shake the jar lightly every couple of days.

There are many uses for this delightful potpourri.  Red roses, when dried, turn a rich burgundy color and look lovely in a ginger jar, candy dish, or antique canister.  Add your potpourri to the stuffing of pillows, or hang it in the pomanders in your closet.  Small sachets can be used in any drawer or be used as thoughtful little gifts for friends and loved ones.  An easy way to make a rose potpourri sachet is to place a small handful of the fragrant mixture in a lace or linen handkerchief or any other handy fabric and tie up the corners with a satin bow or ribbon.

Let the gift of flowers you receive give you enjoyment throughout the year by adding delightful fragrance to every room in your house.