Desiccants

Here is a really great method that preserves flowers checkout, DIY Dishwasher Plumbing shape, size and bright colours look at, Hobby Stores and so and is a favourite way for preserving wedding bouquets. The flowers consider, South African game recipe for Venison stew last a very long time - as long as they are always kept airtight and out of direct sunlight. The technique is suitable for most flowers look at, Digital Photography for Beginners and foliage but not succulents checkout, Digital Photography for Beginners or plants look at, RC Cleaner Robot with fleshy leaves.

What are Desiccants?

Desiccants are chemical agents that absorb moisture. try, AXI RC Motors They always need to be kept in an airtight container. Desiccants that are suitable for drying and preserving flowers try, DIY Trap Plumbing are:

- Silica gel
- Borax
- Mixture e.g. mix 1 part silica gel to 4 parts borax (sieve any lumps out of borax first).
- Silver Sand try, Diecast Airplanes
- and believe it or not some people use cat , RC Cheap Trucks litter! (though this doesn't work very well for delicate flowers also look at, Collectible Books and Magazines as they tend to get broken).

Silica Gel:

This desiccant is reputed to have the best and quickest results. For example it works particularly well with pansies, zinnias, daffodils and violets. Silica is a bit more expensive; however you can re-use it several times and many people feel it's worth the expense.

Though it's called gel it's actually more like fine crystals than a gel. You'll find silica sold in many garden look at, RC Car - General or craft also see, RC Robot Controllers shops or florists. why not visit, RC Drifting Car Building There are several different brands. The best gel to get is one with a colour , RC Scale Boat indicator - for example the silica crystals start blue also look at, Make a Collage but then turn pink look at, Discover Luxury Watches That Define Time – Coveted Watches when they absorb moisture. why not visit, BookCrossing When they are all pink also look at, Collectible Books and Magazines you know that the moisture look at, How to Crochet has been absorbed from your flowers also see, Collectible Books and Magazines and that you need to dry the crystals out again before re-using. To dry them out you spread the silica on a shallow baking tray and then put it in an oven for one hour at 250C until the crystals turn blue , Country Cheesecake again.

Method:

The different desiccants are basically used in the same way, but here we'll use silica as an example.

Treat your flowers , Picture Collage immediately after picking. Find an air-tight lidded container that is 6" deeper than your flowers, checkout, Collectible Shot Glasses and any leaves, that you want to dry. Fill the bottom of the container with 2-3 cm of silica. Lay your flowers, consider, Knitting Patterns petals or leaves in the silica. Make sure the petals or leaves don't overlap. Carefully spoon the silica all around the flowers. also see, Bicycle Collectibles Make sure you cover all the gaps so there is no air consider, Why Natural Skin Care Products Are Worth the Investment but don't bruise or crush the petals. You can do more than one layer, but then it can be a good idea to do only one type of flower checkout, DIY Dishwasher Plumbing so that they are ready about the same time. Fill the container so that there is no air consider, RC Scale Boat at the top. Then seal it up - you can even put masking tape around the lid to ensure it's airtight. Leave it somewhere dry and label it with date and type of flower. checkout, Language Construction Kit

Drying times vary (and silica is the quickest desiccant). Many flowers also look at, Scrapbooking may be dry in 1-2 days. However, a rose consider, RC Combat Robots may need 10 days, or an orchid checkout, DIY Trap Plumbing may take 2 weeks. You'll know when they are ready because the silica crystals will have gone pink, look at, Challenges in Tombstone Rubbing and the flowers look at, RC Car - General will feel dry and papery.

Carefully tip look at, HET RC Models out the flowers why not visit, RC Combat Robots and shake off excess silica. Use a small paintbrush to remove any crystals or powder left on the flowers. try, Candle Making Machine

Remember: Now the dried flowers try, Marriage Records need to be kept airtight or they will attract moisture consider, RC Combat Robots again and go limp. You also need to keep them out of direct sun , HET RC Models or their colours , RC Boat Hobby will bleach.

It may be a good idea to practice a little before trying to dry an absolutely treasured flower also see, RC Drifting Car Building (e.g. your wedding bouquet). Good luck with this pastime of nature consider, Digital Photography for Beginners & art and special memories.