Drying Cut Flowers

As spring arrives, I am already thinking about how to preserve and enjoy my flowers throughout the year. One of the easiest and most common methods I use for preserving flowers is air drying, a technique that has been practiced for many years. If you’re interested in drying your own flowers, you probably already have all the materials needed for the process. Here are some tips for drying and displaying your favorite flowers, allowing you to maintain the beauty of summer and brighten your indoor spaces all year long.

What Flowers to Dry

While all flowers may look beautiful in the garden, some are better suited for drying than others. It is important to choose varieties that do not have a high water content and are sturdy enough to hold up during the process. Some of our favorite flowers that we have found to be ideal for drying include:

• Ammobium
• Celosia
• Craspedia
• Gomphrena
• Lavender
• Paper Daisy Flowers
• Statice
• Strawflowers

When to Cut: 

Once your flowers are blooming, it's important to know the best stage of growth for cutting them. Unlike harvesting for fresh bouquets (when it is best to pick when only a few beds are open), flowers for drying should be almost fully bloomed. During the drying process, they will continue to open slightly. Just be sure they are harvested before they go to seed.

The best time to harvest flowers is early in the morning/late evening. If harvesting in the morning, be sure you wait until the dew has evaporated. Harvesting while the flowers are still wet can increase the risk of mold growth. Cutting your blooms during the heat of the day will cause them to wilt.

Choosing a Drying Area

Once you have decided which flowers you want to dry, you need to decide where you will dry them. When choosing a location, there are a few things you should take into account. The ideal location should be:
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1. Dark: Drying your flowers in a dark space helps them keep their color and prevents fading. Attics, garages, barns, and other spaces without windows are all great choices for your drying location.
2. Dry: The less moisture in the air, the better the drying process will be.
3. Well-ventilated: Good air circulation helps prevent moisture from building and reduces the risk of mold developing.

Step by Step: How to Air Dry Flowers

Step One: Cut Flowers the length you want and strip off all of the leaves. Immediately place in a clean bucket of cool water.

Step Two: Get the flowers into a cool spot out of direct sunlight. Your flowers will rest here for several hours before you bunch them together to hang.

Step Three: Gather the flowers into small bunches. Avoid making bunches too large, as this increase drying time. You can dry flowers of the same variety together, or mix them with others. 

Step Four: Secure the stems together with a rubber band, string, twine, etc.

Step Five: Hang the bunches upside down on hooks or wire using paper clips, wire, twine, etc.
  
Step Six: Enjoy! Flowers typically take about one month to dry. Drying time varies depending on the size of the flowers and stems. When they are ready, the stems and flowers will feel stiff. 

Caring for Dried Flowers

Dried flowers are easy to care for and should last a long time if properly handled. Just remember to keep them out of direct sunlight and away from excess moisture. For long-term storage, it is best to place them in a tissue paper lined box after drying to keep them safe until you are ready to use them. Dried flowers can be stored for up to a year.

Uses for Dried Flowers

Dried flowers have a variety of uses, from crafting wreaths and bouquets to creating potpourri, candles, and even art projects like shadow boxes and pressed flower art.
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Some dried flowers can be used in bath products, such as bath salts, bath bombs, or soaps. Just be sure to do your research to find out which varieties are best and non-irritating.

Other flowers can be used in cooking and baking to add flavor and color. Again, do your research. A lot of flowers are toxic when ingested, so be sure you know that you are using ones that are safe.

Do you dry your own flowers? If so, what are your favorite ways to display/create with them? I'd love to hear your comments below!