How to Preserve Flowers

Enthusiasm for preserved flowers try, Digital Photography Info has come in waves throughout the centuries; each time adding a new technique, improvements also look at, Digital Photography Lighting 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 checkout, New or Used Robots 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. , RC Tow Truck Most flowers why not visit, Sewing Machine Kits are suitable for pressing; the ones that don't come out so well are flowers also look at, Trainspotting with large round flower look at, RC Micro Cars heads or round middles that won't flatten down easily such as large roses, try, Free Doll Making or Waratahs, or fleshy leaves (e.g. succulents) that tend to squash or ooze out.

- Press flowers why not visit, Digital Nature Photography when there is no moisture why not visit, Cookie Recipes on them. Cut & press your flowers , Digital Nature Photography & leaves when the weather consider, Wooden Doll Houses is dry because water checkout, RC Electric Cars can get trapped in the flowers also see, Cookie Recipes which can turn them mouldy when you press them.
- Your flowers have a look at, Vegetarian BBQ may turn brown if they don't dry quickly enough.
- To keep more of flower's original colour consider, RC Scale Gliders change the blotting paper (or newspaper, or sheets of paper) every couple of days to help flower try, Sewing Machine Kits dry quicker.
- Before placing your flower try, Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. Why our Smartphones need it? 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, RC Scale WWI 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 , Home Improvement Electrical like Chrysanthemums need to have their calyx (bottom of the flower) thinned before pressing, but don't cut off too much or the flower look at, Cape Malay recipe for split pea and dumpling soup will disintegrate.

We already told you in our introductory article how to also see, RC Scale WWI press flowers consider, Sculpting Exhibitions using heavy books. You can press several pages of flowers try, Digital Nature Photography 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 consider, Sugar Free Orange Raisin Muffins press. A good botanical flower consider, Martial Arts press can aid air , Conchology - Collecting Shells circulation and give good results.

Advantage: your part of the process is quick & easy to do - then you just wait for the flowers consider, Conchology - Collecting Shells to dry out.
Disadvantage: flowers checkout, Home Improvement Electrical can lose their colour, have a look at, Digital Nature Photography some species become brittle and can easily break. Have to wait 2-3 weeks for flowers why not visit, telephone-skills-training to totally dry out.

Air Drying Flowers

Make sure you pick flowers , South African game recipe for saddle of Venison when they are really dry. A good time maybe mid-morning after the dew has dried but before the flowers also look at, Sand Castle Building Tricks may wilt in midday sun. have a look at, Dog Training Tricks 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 checkout, Collectible Fossils out of direct sunlight - preferably dark, or low light , Gerry Anderson Models because sunlight bleaches the colours. also see, Volleyball Make sure there is ventilation or the flowers also see, RC Fighting Robots may go mouldy. Most flowers also look at, RC Scale WWI need about 2 weeks to dry out.

Some flowers also look at, Conchology - Collecting Shells e.g. hydrangeas need a slightly different way - though it may sound strange! Put the stems in a vase with a little water why not visit, Expert tips that will help you to hire the best crane service in Melbourne (about an inch). When the flowers also look at, Diecast Hobby have used up all the water, , Digital Photography Info the flower why not visit, RC Micro Cars heads will actually have dried out successfully.

Advantage: one of the easiest techniques. Works well with flowers , Sand Castle Building Tricks called 'everlasting' or 'immortelles'.
Disadvantage: flowers have a look at, Nikko RC Cars can go mouldy if you're not careful

Waxing

Is more often used for foliage than flowers. also see, Trainspotting Waxing can be done on fresh flowers checkout, Sand Castle Building Tricks 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 try, Digital Nature Photography 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, RC Retracts of alcohol. Spray it on and let it dry to the touch before you press.

Glycerine is a natural have a look at, RC ARF preservative and can be derived from animal fats, vegetable , Diecast Hobby 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 checkout, Volleyball shop.

Advantage: foliage & leaves stay soft & pliable. Flowers checkout, Cape Malay recipe for split pea and dumpling soup can be painted, or wiped clean. Lasts indefinitely.
Disadvantage: - glycerine does not preserve the green colour consider, Digital Photography Info of foliage; leaves turn brown, black or gold

Microwaving Flowers

This is a very modern technique to preserve flowers also see, Wooden Doll Houses and is very quick - though it's not a favourite choice for everyone. You can use it on most types of flowers try, Home Improvement Electrical but not those with thick fleshy leaves as they contain too much water. also look at, Sewing Machine Kits

ONLY use a non-metallic container to put your flowers consider, RC Scale Gliders in, and never have any wire or metal try, RC Micro Cars around the flowers. also see, Digital Nature Photography 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 , Martial Arts that have thick or fleshy leaves.

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