How to Preserve Flowers – Simple Techniques for Long-lasting Floral Beauty

The eternal beauty of flowers is precious and thus needs to be preserved. Further, the flowers are used as a meaningful gift for the people you admire or are preserved as a cherished keepsake. As exchanging flower bouquets has become a common way to express love and joy, the need to preserve floral beauty is more important than before. 

Preserving the flowers given by our special people like our partner, best friend, and siblings allows us to hold on to the memories of togetherness. Moreover, preserving flowers also reminds us of our favourite days and occasions like weddings, anniversaries, and graduation ceremonies, creating a nostalgic experience. So, let us learn the art of preserving flowers and their beauty through this blog.

Benefits of DIY Preservation Methods 

With the world taking flower preservation seriously, it is important to understand the myriad benefits attached to it. The DIY preservation of the blooms starts with the sole idea of storing our memories for life. The sentimental value connected to the flower bouquets is what makes you go the extra mile to preserve them. Moreover, it also allows you to preserve the rare and unique flowers that are both expensive and seasonal. 

Various DIY methods are increasingly becoming popular among people who love storing flowers as keepsakes. Some of the DIY methods include freezing techniques and traditional air drying. Further, you can also go for artistic preservations like displaying your wedding bouquet in a frame, getting the first flower received from your partner preserved in a resin pendant or making an aesthetic bookmark out of rare flowers!

Choosing the Right Bouquet for Preservation 

Understanding bouquet preservation is not just a way to hold on to special moments but also a way to retain the charm and vibrancy of your blooms for a long time. Learn some of the key tips by Interflora that will help you hone the best practices of flower preservation.

• Selecting Flowers Suitable for Preservation

The most vital part of the entire process lies in selecting the suitable blooms. Pick the flowers that are freshly cut since they have optimum moisture content. However, avoid delicate flowers like hydrangeas and lilies as their squishy texture might disrupt the entire preservation process. 

• Timing

Starting the flower preservation process at the right time can bring some of the best outcomes. However, considering the time depends on the method of preservation you are opting for. Mostly, you need to wait for 2-4 weeks for the flowers to dry completely, based on whether you are hanging the flowers or using silica gel.

• Care and Maintenance

You must care for your fresh flowers appropriately before preserving them. Avoid them from exposure to direct sunlight as they may fade or crumble. Additionally, you can also spray them with unscented hairspray to maintain their beauty and texture.

Methods of Preserving Flowers at Home

You are not alone if you are planning to do it all by yourself. Thus, some quick and easy methods of flower preservation are here to help you start the process. Here are some of the suggested ways:

• Air Drying

It is one of the simplest yet the most effective ways, which does not require complicated tools, just some string. Follow these simple steps to air dry your special blooms at home:

• Remove unwanted foliage and stems. Then, cut the flowers to the length you desire.
• Bind all the flower stems together with a string.
• Now, hang the flowers upside-down in a dark, cool and well-ventilated place like the basement or pantry for about 2-4 weeks.
• Check occasionally whether they are completely dry.

Pro tip: In case you have huge flowers like hydrangeas and peonies, avoid tying them in a bundle; rather, hang them separately.

• Microwave Drying

Microwave drying of flowers for preservation is becoming more popular as it is more efficient,  controlled, and provides quick results. In this method, you need to arrange your flowers in a microwave-friendly container and set your microwave on a defrost setting of 1 minute. Check at frequent intervals whether your flowers feel dry to the touch. Keep running your microwave in a time slot of 1 to 30 seconds until you feel the flowers are completely dry. This method works best for flowers with flat petals.

• Pressing Flowers

Pressing flowers is another well-known traditional technique of floral preservation. However, it’s a classic and versatile way of preserving flowers where you squeeze the blooms between pages of old and heavy books to dry them off. Additionally, there are other modern methods of pressing the flowers that have become common recently, for instance, sandwiching your flowers between the two tiles along with a protective layer of parchment paper or the mechanical press method. Mechanical presses have two wooden boards held up with screws at four corners, and flowers are pressed between these two boards with layers of cardboard and parchment paper.

Preserve Wedding Flowers (Varmala) Step by Step

Preserving wedding flowers or varmala is a wonderful way to cherish the memories of your special day. By preserving your wedding flowers using this simple method, you can create lasting mementos that will remind you of your special day for years to come.

Step 1: Deconstruct the Varmala and add the flowers to a box.

Step 2: Add Silica to dry the flowers

Step 3: Remove after few days once the flowers have dried up.

Step 4: Add the dry flowers to a mould

Step 5: Pour resin

Step 6. Unmould, once dried

DIY Flowers Preservation Projects

Take your flower preservation art a step further by opting for more creative ways. Listed below are some top-tier DIY methods to try.

• Making a Pressed Flower Frame

Preserving flowers in frames undeniably serves as a notable technique. However, choose a frame based on whether you want a wall display or a shelf display; either way, opt for UV-protected glass frames that give a full view of your flower presentation and keep it protected from moisture and sunlight. Next, follow these steps to create a pressed flower frame:

• Pick flowers with flat and minimal petals, for example, roses, daisies and carnations. Also, your flowers should not be wilted and must have some moisture.
• Press all the flowers that you need in the frames between the pages of any heavy book. Keep them overnight.
• Scrutinise your flowers after 24 hours and remove extra petals or buds attached to the stem with tweezers.
• Now, arrange the blooms carefully in the frame in a pattern you desire. 

You can choose foam board frames, brass frames or a shadow box that brings out the depth of the flower presentation.

• Creating a Dried Flower Bouquet

Dried flower bouquets give you the opportunity to ķeep your flowers longer than you thought. Start with drying the flowers first in your preferred method. Then, choose a bouquet style, whether you want a vintage bouquet, a luxury theme or a modern style. Next, arrange the dry flowers in the bouquet style you have selected. However, ensure you keep your dry flower bouquets away from direct sunlight and excess moisture to increase their lifespan

• Designing a Floral Keepsake

Use dry flowers in an artistic way. You can preserve your flowers using various craft ideas like personalised keepsakes. Now, these include resin frames, preserving flowers in jewellery pieces like earrings and necklaces or home decor items like acrylic and resin wall art.

Reuse your Bouquet Wraps Tutorial

Received hand-tied bouquets & love the wraps used? Reuse your bouquet wraps with this easy guide to creating a unique and different look with 3 ways to wrap fresh blooms!

Tips and Tricks for Successful Home Preservation 

Here are some essential tips to consider while preserving your special flowers at home:

• Select flowers with sturdy stems and less delicate petals to make handling an easy process.
• Avoid hanging the blooms in low-humidity spaces. It prevents colour fading and wilting.
• Avoid the most common error- choosing flowers that are not apt for a certain preservation, for example, do not use huge hydrangea flowers for frames; rather, you can use them in shadow boxes.
• Maintain cleanliness throughout. Check your flowers at regular intervals to avoid any mishaps.

Delve Into the Art of Flower Preservation!

Preserving flower bouquets has topped all trends recently. So, following this trend, if you, too, want to preserve the special flowers given to you by your dear ones and wish to make memories out of them, then it’s time to pick some scissors and tweezers to start with the flower preservation process! 

This Interflora comprehensive guide allows you to attain best practices and effective results through your newly found flower preservation skills! So whether it’s your wedding bouquet or a beautiful vintage bouquet, unleash your creative side and hop on to preserve your memories forever!

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