The aesthetic appeal of flowers has long been acknowledged by people. The only downside to flowers is that it is not possible to keep them for long after they have been transferred to a vase of water as wilting cannot be avoided. The good news is that one can enjoy pretty blooms for much longer by drying them.
There are a great many reasons for drying blooms. You might even start drying flowers after receiving some from family and friends. Gathering wildflowers at the onset of spring is another occasion for starting craft projects.
Air drying is arguably the most elementary way to dry flowers. Most people remove leaves and small shoots from the stems prior to bunching up several flowers to be dried. Tie the bunched-up flowers with a cord and hang them with the flowers pointing to the floor.
If you want your flowers to dry more quickly, make sure there is breathing room in between clumps. You have to suspend flowers with the heads pointing at the floor because this makes certain that the stalks do not get twisted. Hanging the flowers right-side-up is going to bend the stems later on.
The flowers need to be kept out of direct sunlight, preferably in a dark room. If you keep your dried flowers in a place where the sun can get to them, they shall end up looking washed-out in color. They also need to be kept in a warm and dry place to avoid rotting.
Wait at least two weeks before testing whether the air-dried blooms are ready yet or not. Drying duration varies depending on the water content of the plants as well as general conditions of temperature, humidity and air circulation. The chances of complication are few if you follow procedures to the letter, but it would be best to keep an eye on the blooms.
If the flowers you are using are naturally moist, you may turn to chemical agents such as silica gel. The flattened version of preserved flowers are often made with heavy books: you can just slip the bloom between pages and press down. Most people prefer to do it the fast way, so desiccants are popular options: for those who do not mind waiting, pressing may be a viable alternative.
After your flowers have been dried properly, you can start thinking of applications for them. Dried flowers are great for potpourri mixes, among other things. Dried flowers may even be displayed simply, without any real arrangement, just as a bunch of buds and blooms in a container.
As with other decorative items, dried floral arrangements have a tendency to accumulate dirt and dust. This can be easily solved by dusting them off. If you are worried about unwanted "houseguests" damaging the flowers, put a mothball or two near them.
The most beautiful blooms may be kept much longer if they are dried, so you can still enjoy them out of season. The products of these drying techniques shall undoubtedy render all the work worthwhile. Drying flowers is a unique and creative way to hold on to keepsakes that would otherwise have wilted away.
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