How to Preserve Flowers

Enthusiasm for preserved flowers also see, Digital Portrait Photography has come in waves throughout the centuries; each time adding a new technique, improvements also see, Shoes for latin Dancing and new ideas. So that today we can choose from tried and tested ancient techniques e.g. air-drying or modern methods e.g. microwaving.

Preparing your Flower

- Pick your flowers also see, Home Improvement DVD when they are freshest
- But pick when dew has dried and they are thoroughly dry

Pressing the Flowers

This is an easy, favourite and one of the oldest ways to preserve flowers. have a look at, Blacksmith Tools Most flowers why not visit, Falconry are suitable for pressing; the ones that don't come out so well are flowers checkout, Gothic Stained Glass Patterns with large round flower also see, Home Chemistry Kits heads or round middles that won't flatten down easily such as large roses, have a look at, Advertising Agencies in Hyderabad or Waratahs, or fleshy leaves (e.g. succulents) that tend to squash or ooze out.

- Press flowers also look at, Lemon Oil when there is no moisture consider, Gin Rummy on them. Cut & press your flowers have a look at, Gambling Collectibles & leaves when the weather consider, Digital Photography Online is dry because water look at, Calligrapher can get trapped in the flowers checkout, Sand Castle Building which can turn them mouldy when you press them.
- Your flowers why not visit, Calligrapher may turn brown if they don't dry quickly enough.
- To keep more of flower's original colour also look at, Gin Rummy change the blotting paper (or newspaper, or sheets of paper) every couple of days to help flower try, Lemon Oil dry quicker.
- Before placing your flower have a look at, Hapkido for pressing; take a moment to imagine how it will look when it's flattened, and arrange it nicely e.g. you may like to avoid parts overlapping.
- With some flowers also see, Digital Photography Online e.g. daffodils it can help to cut them in half and open them out before pressing.
- You can also dry petals singly and then reassemble them when they're dried.
- Thick flowers try, Calligrapher like Chrysanthemums need to have their calyx (bottom of the flower) thinned before pressing, but don't cut off too much or the flower try, Candle making Crafts will disintegrate.

We already told you in our introductory article how to why not visit, Falconry press flowers also look at, Drawing Instructions using heavy books. You can press several pages of flowers why not visit, Video Poker at a time; just make sure that you leave at least 1/8" of pages between pressings. Another good way is to make or buy a flower look at, Advertising Agencies in Hyderabad press. A good botanical flower have a look at, South African BBQ Boerewors press can aid air have a look at, South African BBQ Boerewors circulation and give good results.

Advantage: your part of the process is quick & easy to do - then you just wait for the flowers also look at, EDF Jet to dry out.
Disadvantage: flowers also look at, EDF Jet can lose their colour, also look at, Gambling Collectibles some species become brittle and can easily break. Have to wait 2-3 weeks for flowers , Falconry to totally dry out.

Air Drying Flowers

Make sure you pick flowers look at, Home Chemistry Kits when they are really dry. A good time maybe mid-morning after the dew has dried but before the flowers why not visit, Collecting American Coins may wilt in midday sun. why not visit, Sand Castle Building Terminology - Part Four Remove excess leaves from the stems, (unless you want to dry them as well).

Divide them into small bunches and tie with elastic band. Hang upside down in a warm, airy place also see, Sand Castle Building out of direct sunlight - preferably dark, or low light checkout, Knitting Designs because sunlight bleaches the colours. also see, Commercial Clean Group - Sunshine Coast Make sure there is ventilation or the flowers checkout, Basic sugar free Muffins may go mouldy. Most flowers , Knitting Designs need about 2 weeks to dry out.

Some flowers try, Digital Camera Reviews e.g. hydrangeas need a slightly different way - though it may sound strange! Put the stems in a vase with a little water have a look at, 7 Card Stud Hi Lo Poker (about an inch). When the flowers consider, Gin Rummy have used up all the water, why not visit, 7 Card Stud Hi Lo Poker the flower have a look at, Digital Photography Online heads will actually have dried out successfully.

Advantage: one of the easiest techniques. Works well with flowers look at, RC Battle Robots called 'everlasting' or 'immortelles'.
Disadvantage: flowers also see, Hapkido can go mouldy if you're not careful

Waxing

Is more often used for foliage than flowers. also see, Methi Malai Matar - Fenugreek and Peas in Butter Sauce Waxing can be done on fresh flowers also look at, South African BBQ Boerewors or leaves, or dried, or partially dry. But don't try to press your materials after waxing.

Method: Melt some paraffin wax. (some people put a little mineral oil into their wax to thin it out a bit). Plunge each individual flower why not visit, Drawing Instructions or leaf into the wax. Remove and shake off excess. Put in fridge to set and harden.

Advantage: simple and quick.
Disadvantage: can be bit more tricky waxing flowers

Glycerine

Sometimes it helps to use a small amount of glycerine before pressing - this works well on foliage. Some people experiment with mixing it with a little water consider, Gambling Collectibles of alcohol. Spray it on and let it dry to the touch before you press.

Glycerine is a natural try, Kite Line preservative and can be derived from animal fats, vegetable why not visit, Lemon Oil origin, or made synthetically. It's a clear, sticky, gel-liquid that tastes sweet & is often used, for example, in confectionary or moisturisers. You'll find it in the cake-making section of a supermarket, in a pharmacy or craft , Gin Rummy shop.

Advantage: foliage & leaves stay soft & pliable. Flowers why not visit, Hapkido can be painted, or wiped clean. Lasts indefinitely.
Disadvantage: - glycerine does not preserve the green colour why not visit, Landscape Drawings of foliage; leaves turn brown, black or gold

Microwaving Flowers

This is a very modern technique to preserve flowers try, Sand Castle Building Terminology - Part Four and is very quick - though it's not a favourite choice for everyone. You can use it on most types of flowers look at, RC Army Tank but not those with thick fleshy leaves as they contain too much water. try, Blacksmith Tools

ONLY use a non-metallic container to put your flowers try, Digital Photography Online in, and never have any wire or metal try, Collecting American Coins around the flowers. try, Drawing Instructions You will need to experiment to get the right setting and timing for your particular microwave. So start off with the low settings, and only for a few seconds at a time. Some people use silica gel for better results.

Advantage: Is extremely quick - instead of waiting days or weeks process is finished in minutes.
Disadvantage: Does not work well with plants checkout, Gambling Collectibles that have thick or fleshy leaves.

Another very successful way to preserve flowers also see, Digital Photography Guide is using Desiccants - see our separate article.