An arrangement of flowers provides beauty and fragrance to any environment. Unfortunately, the lives of cut flowers are fleeting, and once an arrangement has died, we are left with only the memory of its colors and scents. There is a way, however, to preserve the beauty of a fresh flower arrangement so that it can be enjoyed for years to come. Drying a flower arrangement is an almost effortless means of preservation. When done properly, drying ensures that you will have a tangible reminder of a flower arrangement that you especially loved. These guidelines will show you how.
Drying a Flower Arrangement
Pull the flower stems from the vase or container in which they have been arranged. Remove the flowers before they have begun to wilt, turn soggy or rot. Make sure they are not already shedding their petals.
Check each flower for signs of mold or decay. Discard the undesirable ones.
Rinse the stems of flowers that were inserted in floral foam to remove any of the foam residue. Remove any excess foliage from the stems of all the flowers, leaving just the leaves you desire to dry, or none at all.
Lay the flowers gently on a towel to absorb the water on their stems. Pat the stems lightly with a towel until they are dry. Cut the stems to a shorter length if you desire.
Gather the flowers loosely in a bundle. Divide them into two or more bundles if you have many flowers to dry. Assemble fairly small bundles that have a circumference approximate to that of a softball to allow for quick and easy drying.
Tie each bundle with string. Leave plenty of extra string dangling off each bundle so you can hang it upside down.
Locate a cool, dark place where your flowers can hang undisturbed. Use the string to hang the flowers upside down from hooks, nails or beams in the ceiling, or from hangers or a rack in a closet.
Leave the flowers for two to three weeks. Take the flowers down when they are completely dry and, if you desire, untie the bundles to use the flowers however you wish.
