In order to enjoy the pretty fronds of pampas grass for as long as possible, they can be dried. To do this, the pampas grass is hung upside down, blow-dried and fixed with hairspray. The fronds can then be draped in a vase alone or with accompanying dried flowers such as palm leaves.
How do you dry pampas grass correctly?
To dry pampas grass, cut the fronds in the fall, hang them upside down, and let them dry for about a week. The flowers can then be carefully blow-dried and fixed with hairspray.
How is pampas grass dried?
The fronds of pampas grass are cut off in autumn and hung upside down to dry for about a week. The flowers can then be carefully blow-dried and fixed with hairspray. However, this step is not absolutely necessary.
Harvesting and cutting pampas grass fronds for the vase
In order to prepare the flower spikes of the ornamental grass for a vase arrangement, they must first be professionally cut from the plant. When harvesting the fronds, there are a few points to pay attention to in order not to damage both the inflorescences and the plant itself. Additional information on pruning can be found in this article.
The inflorescences of Cortaderia selloana, which are to be dried later, are cut off in autumn. The grass is usually not cut back until spring. By this time, however, the flower fronds have usually already withered and are no longer visually appealing. Select only the most shapely fronds for pruning, as the remaining ones are needed by the ornamental grass as natural frost protection. As far as possible, you should keep your distance from stalks in the middle, as moisture can easily penetrate the plant through the exposed areas. For more tips on overwintering in beds and containers, look here.
For the pruning itself, you should follow the following instructions:
- wait for dry, overcast and frost-free weather
- Protect from sharp-edged leaves with gloves, safety glasses and a long top and long trousers
- Sharpen and disinfect cutting tools, for example secateurs
- grab selected stalks and cut them directly above the ground
- put individual stems aside separately
If you already know what size the stems in the vase should be in the future, you can shorten them to the desired length. A shorter overall length is more manageable, especially during the drying phase.
Instructions: Drying and preserving pampas grass
In order to preserve Cortaderia selloana for a long time, it is necessary to dry it thoroughly beforehand. The process takes place in four simple steps, which are explained in more detail below. These four steps must be carried out regardless of the future use of the fronds. In addition to placing them in a vase, you can find out here how to make a magnificent wreath from the stalks.
After the stalks and the fronds have been cut off and brought to the desired length, they are hung upside down. To do this, the stalks are tied together at the end using a strong cord and hung on a hook, for example.
A suitable storage location is either outdoor or indoor, which should meet the following conditions:
- well ventilated
- dry
- shady
The grasses should, if possible, not come into contact with moisture after cutting, which is why they must be explicitly protected from moisture. Depending on the abundance and number of fronds, drying takes between one and three weeks.
Before the flower spikes are finally preserved, they still have to be shaped. First you should carefully brush out the loose tufts or shake the fronds slightly. Ideally, you should do this work outdoors as the lint tends to spread all around. It is then recommended to blow-dry the individual inflorescences upside down with a hairdryer until they are fluffy. Thanks to the controlled airflow, the individual flowers spread voluminously.
Finally, the inflorescences are fixed using hairspray or clear varnish, which are sprayed over a large area. If you are unable to produce dried fronds yourself, you will find a guide for already dried stalks here.
Pampas grass in the vase
The dried ornamental grass can be arranged in the vase either alone or with other plants. When arranging several stalks of the same type, we recommend setting individual highlights using color accents.
The pampas grass can be arranged in a vase with its own kind as well as other plants such as eucalyptus.
Cortaderia selloana itself can appear in different color variations from gray-silver to yellow and pink. All possible color variations of pampas grass can be found here.
In addition, the following dried flowers have proven to be suitable for combination in practice:
- Eucalyptus
- hydrangeas
- Palm leaves
Further combination options can be found here.
A transparent, floor-to-ceiling vessel is particularly suitable as a vase. The bottle from Mica decorations (€45.00 on Amazon) has a maximum height of 56 centimeters and a diameter of 40 centimeters. These dimensions are ideal for creating an opulent arrangement that can also be easily placed on shelves or sideboards. Further information on vase design can be found in this article.
Dried Pampas Grass Care
The dried pampas grass generally no longer requires any specific care. Drying and fixing should ensure that the fronds remain in their shape. However, it is still necessary to regularly remove the dust that settles on the flowers. All you need to do is shake them slightly or dust them with a feather duster. Additional tips on care can be found in this article.
The dried stems should no longer come into contact with water as this can lead to the formation of mold. If your pampas grass no longer looks beautiful over time, it should simply be disposed of and replaced with new stems.
FAQ
What do I do if pampas grass is fuzzing?
If you have fluffy pampas grass, you should shake it out outdoors if possible. You can also remove loose areas on the pompons by hand. Finally, it is recommended to fix the fronds again with hairspray or clear varnish.
How long does pampas grass last?
Dried pampas grass can be used safely for several years. Once the grass has been thoroughly dried, there is no risk of mold formation if new contact with water is avoided. The ornamental grass can therefore be used as long as it fits your interior and is in good shape.
How long does pampas grass have to dry?
The drying of the pampas grass takes between one and three weeks, depending on the abundance and number of fronds. However, overdrying does not have any negative effects on the quality of the inflorescences, so they can safely be hung up for longer.
When are the pampas grass fronds cut?
To make the dried flowers, the fronds should be cut off in autumn. To do this, select a few beautiful stalks and cut them down to the ground.
How is pampas grass dried?
The cut stalks are first hung upside down for several weeks so that they can dry completely. These are then removed from loose materials and blow-dried until fluffy using a hairdryer. Finally, you should fix the pom-pom with hairspray or clear varnish.
