How to Dry Statice Flowers

Overview

Statice flowers' clusters of small, colorful blossoms look nice in dried floral arrangements, wreaths or other craft projects. You can grow statice in your own garden or purchase it fresh at your local farmer's market. When preparing to dry statice flowers, pick or buy more than you think you'll need, since the flowers will shrink a little as they dry, and some flowers may get damaged.

Step 1

Harvest your statice when it is in peak bloom and all the leaves are fully open. Do not gather any statice that is damaged or insect ridden. Try to harvest in the afternoon, when the morning dew has thoroughly dried.

Step 2

Remove the leaves from the lower third of the stem with your fingers.

Step 3

Bundle statice together in small bouquets of five to 10 stems. Do not crowd the flowers, since this may damage them. It's better to dry statice in several small bunches than in one big bunch.

Step 4

Tie the stems together loosely with a length of string or twine, just tight enough to hold the bouquet together. Leave one end of the string about 2 to 3 feet long.

Step 5

Hang the statice bouquet upside down by the string in a dark, secluded place, such as a closet or basement. Avoid areas with rodent, insect or other animal problems.

Step 6

Check on the statice after one week to see how dry it is. Since statice flowers are fairly dry to begin with, try bending the very bottom portion of the stem. Dry stems will snap, while fresh statice stems will bend.

Step 7

Remove the statice when it is thoroughly dry, and arrange it in a vase or wreath frame or use it in another craft project. If you will not be using your statice right away, store it in a cardboard box wrapped very loosely in tissue paper.