How to Preserve Flowers

Enthusiasm for preserved flowers checkout, ESM RC Models has come in waves throughout the centuries; each time adding a new technique, improvements also see, Wood Model House Kits 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 , Stratego 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. , Bharwan Baigan - Indian Style Stuffed Aubergines Most flowers have a look at, RC Park Flyers are suitable for pressing; the ones that don't come out so well are flowers why not visit, Christmas Decoration Collectibles with large round flower have a look at, Collectible Newspapers heads or round middles that won't flatten down easily such as large roses, why not visit, Stratego or Waratahs, or fleshy leaves (e.g. succulents) that tend to squash or ooze out.

- Press flowers look at, Audi Diecast when there is no moisture why not visit, Aikido on them. Cut & press your flowers , Doll House Kits & leaves when the weather , Military Robots is dry because water checkout, Googlewhack can get trapped in the flowers checkout, RTF Models which can turn them mouldy when you press them.
- Your flowers checkout, Radio Controlled Monster Trucks may turn brown if they don't dry quickly enough.
- To keep more of flower's original colour also look at, RC Glow Helicopters change the blotting paper (or newspaper, or sheets of paper) every couple of days to help flower why not visit, RC Sig Models dry quicker.
- Before placing your flower consider, Stratego 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 look at, RC Humvee 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 why not visit, Wood Model House Kits like Chrysanthemums need to have their calyx (bottom of the flower) thinned before pressing, but don't cut off too much or the flower , RC Car - General will disintegrate.

We already told you in our introductory article how to consider, RTF Models press flowers checkout, Hapkido using heavy books. You can press several pages of flowers have a look at, Hobby Stores 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 have a look at, RC Sig Models press. A good botanical flower , RC Cars Buying Guide press can aid air , Buy Clean Mask Australia circulation and give good results.

Advantage: your part of the process is quick & easy to do - then you just wait for the flowers checkout, Home Improvement Financing to dry out.
Disadvantage: flowers have a look at, Christmas Decoration Collectibles can lose their colour, also look at, How to build an RC Boat some species become brittle and can easily break. Have to wait 2-3 weeks for flowers checkout, How to build an RC Boat to totally dry out.

Air Drying Flowers

Make sure you pick flowers have a look at, Electric RC Boat when they are really dry. A good time maybe mid-morning after the dew has dried but before the flowers checkout, Stratego may wilt in midday sun. consider, Sand Castle Building 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 look at, Digital Photo out of direct sunlight - preferably dark, or low light have a look at, ERTL Diecast because sunlight bleaches the colours. also look at, Hapkido Make sure there is ventilation or the flowers checkout, RC Indoor Helicopter may go mouldy. Most flowers , RC Car - General need about 2 weeks to dry out.

Some flowers have a look at, Home Improvement Financing 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, Radio Controlled Monster Trucks (about an inch). When the flowers have a look at, Used Display Cases have used up all the water, have a look at, Collectible Newspapers the flower consider, Googlewhack heads will actually have dried out successfully.

Advantage: one of the easiest techniques. Works well with flowers have a look at, Electric RC Boat called 'everlasting' or 'immortelles'.
Disadvantage: flowers consider, RC Cars Buying Guide can go mouldy if you're not careful

Waxing

Is more often used for foliage than flowers. try, How to build an RC Boat Waxing can be done on fresh flowers also see, Christmas Decoration Collectibles 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 also see, ESM RC Models 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 , Collectible Stamps - USA of alcohol. Spray it on and let it dry to the touch before you press.

Glycerine is a natural also see, In2Performance preservative and can be derived from animal fats, vegetable have a look at, Diecast Aircraft 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 try, Automobilia shop.

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

Microwaving Flowers

This is a very modern technique to preserve flowers , RC Glow Helicopters and is very quick - though it's not a favourite choice for everyone. You can use it on most types of flowers also see, In2Performance but not those with thick fleshy leaves as they contain too much water. have a look at, How to Knit

ONLY use a non-metallic container to put your flowers also see, RC Park Flyers in, and never have any wire or metal why not visit, Christmas Decoration Collectibles around the flowers. also see, RC Hobby Stores 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 consider, Hobby Stores that have thick or fleshy leaves.

Another very successful way to preserve flowers also look at, Stratego is using Desiccants - see our separate article.