Given flowers are often not just a gift, but the flowers represent emotions that you would like to remember for a long time. Unfortunately, the shelf life of fresh plants is limited. However, there are some ways to dry them and thereby preserve memories.
How can I preserve and preserve flowers?
To preserve flowers, you can place them in glycerin, use silica powder or dry s alt, air dry, or cover with a layer of wax. Each method has its own benefits and results for preserving flowers and memories.
Put in glycerin
In this way, the moisture can be removed from entire bouquets. Glycerin is a sugar alcohol that binds liquids. You can get the product in pharmacies (€14.00 on Amazon) and drugstores.
The procedure:
- Mix one part glycerin with two parts lukewarm water and pour into the vase.
- Cut stems fresh and remove leaves that would be dipped in the liquid.
- Put flowers in it.
- These now absorb the water-glycerin mixture and dry within a few days.
The method also works well on flowers without stems. In this case, pour the glycerin and water mixture into a glass and place a single flower in it. Drying is complete as soon as no more droplets emerge from the petals.
Silicon in powder form or special dry s alt
This procedure preserves the colors of the flowers beautifully. However, flowers that you want to dry in this way must not be too moist, as the s alts only absorb a limited amount of liquid.
- Pour some desiccant into a tightly fitting container and place the flower in it.
- Cover completely with dry s alt.
- Close and place in a warm place for at least two weeks.
- Remove the flowers and shake off any remaining s alt.
Air drying
This is probably the most well-known method of preserving flowers. It is equally suitable for bouquets and individual flowers. These get a beautiful, morbid character.
- Tie the flowers tightly together and hang them upside down.
- A dark, airy room is ideal.
- The plants are completely dry when they rustle slightly when touched.
- Finally, you can protect the flowers with clear varnish or hairspray.
Coating flowers with a layer of wax
In this way, individual flowers can be preserved permanently. Old candle scraps or craft wax are suitable for the coating. Beautiful effects can be achieved using colored wax.
- Melt the wax in a water bath.
- Check the temperature with a thermometer. This should not be hotter than 60 degrees.
- Dip flowers upside down.
- Place in a vase or on a newspaper to dry.
Tip
You can preserve individual flowers in the oven. Place the flowers on a baking tray sprinkled with sand and dry them on the lowest setting for several hours.
