How to Preserve Fresh Flowers
27 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Flower, Flowers, Garden, GARDENS, GROWING FLOWERS, Growing Gardens, Growing Plants, How to Preserve Fresh Flowers, Plants, PRESERVE GARDENS, Sunflower, Types of Flowers, Types of Gardens Tags: flower, flowers, garden, gardening, GARDENS, Growing Flowers, Growing Gardens, growing plants, Hanging the Flowers, How to Preserve Fresh Flowers, Placing Flowers in Glycerin, plants, PRESERVE GARDENS, Pressing the Flowers, Sunflower, Types of Flowers, Types of Gardens
Fresh flowers look very beautiful and refreshing. Their fresh colors and aroma are quiet energizing for mind and soul. But the problem is that the flowers are not long-lasting. They wither very soon. Fortunately, there are different ways to preserve fresh flowers. Using these ways and methods we can preserve fresh flowers for a long time so that we can make our home beautiful and colorful.
Here are some methods of preserving fresh flowers which would definitely help you.
Hanging the Flowers
Hanging the flowers is the best and most common method of preserving flowers. All you have to do is to hang the flowers upside down. The first step is to separate the flowers in bunches. Then the flowers are tied up using some wires or strings, and a knot is made. The knot should be tight enough to hold the flowers while cutting stems. Now hang the string with a ceiling and let it dry for a couple of weeks. This technique is very good for bouquets.
Placing Flowers in Glycerin
In this process, take a container and pour two parts of water and one part of glycerin. The container should be large enough to hold the flowers and the water should be lukewarm. Instead of glycerin, you can also use a car antifreeze solution. Now place the flowers in the container in such a way that they are completely absorbed in the solution. The flowers will dry within 3 days to 2 weeks but it depends on the size and number of flowers. After removal from the solution, if you feel that the flowers are withered then you can hang them upside down. Then glycerin will automatically move to the leaves and branch tips.
Pressing the Flowers
This method involves pressing the flower between two layers of paper. For this purpose, you should use unglazed paper like news print. Firstly spread the flowers onto a paper in such a way that they don’t overlap each other. Then place another paper on the flowers and put a heavy object for pressing the flowers. The wait distribution should be equal. You can also make additional layers of papers and flowers and cover them with cardboard before placing a heavy object. The time taken by the flowers to dry is 2 to 4 weeks but it depends on the size of flowers.
Drying Flowers using Sand
Under this method, the flowers are dried using sand. It is recommended to sift the sand before using it in order to remove grains and other particles. You can also rinse the sand with water to remove soil. Now dry the damp sand using oven. Place the sand in shallow pans and put them in oven to bake at 250 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Now the sand is ready to use for drying the flowers. For this to be done, place 1 or 2 inches of sand in a container and put the flower head upright into the sand. Drop the sand on the petals of flowers starting with the outer petals. The flowers will dry in 1 or 2 weeks. When they are dried they become delicate and can break. So, special care should be taken while removing sand from flowers. Then the flowers should be placed in a strong box to prevent them from breaking.
Using Silica Gel
Silica gel is used to absorb the moisture from the flowers. This method is better than other drying methods because it preserves the flower in more refreshing color. In this method, silica gel is put in a spraying bottle. Flowers and petals are separated using silica gel. Then it is sprayed on petals and base of flowers. The sprayed flowers are put in a baking pan. Then it is put in microwave to cook. There is not a definite temperature recommended for this method so you should check the flowers frequently.
I hope the above mentioned methods will assist you better to preserve your fresh flowers and make your home more beautiful and elegant with dry flower decoration.
