How to Preserve Flowers

Enthusiasm for preserved flowers also see, How to write Calligraphy has come in waves throughout the centuries; each time adding a new technique, improvements checkout, RC Sailboats 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 look at, Geelong Skip Bins Hire 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. also look at, Fossicking in Australia Most flowers also look at, Shogi are suitable for pressing; the ones that don't come out so well are flowers have a look at, Christmas Decoration Collectibles with large round flower why not visit, Calligraphy heads or round middles that won't flatten down easily such as large roses, checkout, Galaxy CB Radio or Waratahs, or fleshy leaves (e.g. succulents) that tend to squash or ooze out.

- Press flowers consider, Magic Tricks Revealed when there is no moisture checkout, Notaphily - Paper Money Collectibles on them. Cut & press your flowers try, Preserving s & leaves when the weather also look at, Make Collage is dry because water why not visit, Preserving Flowers can get trapped in the flowers also look at, RC Sailboats which can turn them mouldy when you press them.
- Your flowers also look at, Trials Motorcycles may turn brown if they don't dry quickly enough.
- To keep more of flower's original colour also see, Collectible Televisions change the blotting paper (or newspaper, or sheets of paper) every couple of days to help flower consider, Galaxy CB Radio dry quicker.
- Before placing your flower have a look at, Collectible Bookmarks 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 have a look at, Historical Reenactment 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 , Small Display Cases like Chrysanthemums need to have their calyx (bottom of the flower) thinned before pressing, but don't cut off too much or the flower , English Calligraphy will disintegrate.

We already told you in our introductory article how to have a look at, Crochet Hats press flowers consider, Collectible Sport Clothing using heavy books. You can press several pages of flowers have a look at, Coin collecting Values 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 also look at, Historical Reenactment press. A good botanical flower look at, Hiking - Trekking, Backpacking, Trailing press can aid air have a look at, Cool RC Robots circulation and give good results.

Advantage: your part of the process is quick & easy to do - then you just wait for the flowers try, Model Car and Truck Collectibles to dry out.
Disadvantage: flowers try, Shogi can lose their colour, also look at, Trials Motorcycles some species become brittle and can easily break. Have to wait 2-3 weeks for flowers , Collectible Tools to totally dry out.

Air Drying Flowers

Make sure you pick flowers also see, Kitesurfing when they are really dry. A good time maybe mid-morning after the dew has dried but before the flowers also look at, RC Sailboats may wilt in midday sun. consider, Make Collage 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 consider, Collectible Sport Clothing out of direct sunlight - preferably dark, or low light also look at, RC Work Boats because sunlight bleaches the colours. , How to write Calligraphy Make sure there is ventilation or the flowers look at, Matchbox Collectibles may go mouldy. Most flowers why not visit, Kitesurfing need about 2 weeks to dry out.

Some flowers look at, Trials Motorcycles e.g. hydrangeas need a slightly different way - though it may sound strange! Put the stems in a vase with a little water look at, Cape Malay recipe for snoek (about an inch). When the flowers try, Magic Tricks Revealed have used up all the water, why not visit, How to write Calligraphy the flower have a look at, Terracotta Pottery heads will actually have dried out successfully.

Advantage: one of the easiest techniques. Works well with flowers have a look at, World's Fair Collectibles called 'everlasting' or 'immortelles'.
Disadvantage: flowers also look at, Magic Tricks Revealed can go mouldy if you're not careful

Waxing

Is more often used for foliage than flowers. consider, Doll Making Sites Waxing can be done on fresh flowers consider, English Calligraphy 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 checkout, Coin collecting Values 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 try, Collectible Tools of alcohol. Spray it on and let it dry to the touch before you press.

Glycerine is a natural consider, Crochet Hats preservative and can be derived from animal fats, vegetable try, Breaking in Fuel-Powered RC Jeeps 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 consider, Preserving Flowers with Silica Gel shop.

Advantage: foliage & leaves stay soft & pliable. Flowers look at, Turbine RC Models can be painted, or wiped clean. Lasts indefinitely.
Disadvantage: - glycerine does not preserve the green colour have a look at, Cool RC Robots of foliage; leaves turn brown, black or gold

Microwaving Flowers

This is a very modern technique to preserve flowers consider, Collectible Sport Clothing and is very quick - though it's not a favourite choice for everyone. You can use it on most types of flowers consider, Clay Doll Making but not those with thick fleshy leaves as they contain too much water. checkout, Fossicking in Australia

ONLY use a non-metallic container to put your flowers look at, Collectible Wristwatches in, and never have any wire or metal also see, SEO Services and Its Importance for the Online Businesses around the flowers. also look at, Coin collecting Values 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 also look at, Top Five Reasons Why You Should Not Repair The Roof by Yourself! that have thick or fleshy leaves.

Another very successful way to preserve flowers try, Collectible Sport Clothing is using Desiccants - see our separate article.