How to Preserve Flowers: Methods, Benefits, and Popular Uses of Preserved Flowers

Flowers are associated with love, affection, and memories, but they do not last as long as we want, and that is where flower preservation comes to the rescue. 

Fresh blooms are preserved through methods like air drying, silica gel, and resin, which makes them fit for uses like wall art, home decor, and jewelry making. This way, special blooms remain a part of our lives without constant care. 

Hence, if you are curious to know how to dry flowers and preserve them for a much longer time, come along as I share how to preserve flowers with their benefits, uses, and more. 

Quick answer 

Flowers are preserved through 6 main ways, which include air drying, the glycerin method, silica gel, resin layer, pressing, and the microwave method. All these alternatives help in expanding the lifespan of the flowers and make them fit for ornamental uses.

How to Preserve Flowers: 6 Efficient Preservation Methods

There are 6 common ways to preserve flowers: air-drying, silica gel, the resin method, pressing, glycerin water, and microwaving. Each alternative yields different results and is used for different purposes. 

Take a look at these preservation methods with a step-by-step guide: 

1. Air-Drying Method

• Select good-quality flowers that are partially open, and mature ones can get damaged easily. 
• Keep these blooms away from direct sunlight for a few days. 
• After 2-3 days, tie them together with an elastic string and hang them together in a low-light, well-ventilated area, and after 3 weeks, they are ready to use.
• Drying roses and English lavender are best done using this method. 

2. Glycerin Method

• Ideally, the glycerin-water method is used to preserve fresh flowers for a much longer time without removing their moisture. 
• Take a glass container and add 2 parts of warm water and 1 part glycerin to it; mix until smooth. 
• Now take the flower stems and cut them at a 45-degree angle, and place the blooms in the container for a few days. 
• The flower petals will become softer and deeper in colour. These blooms can be used for decorative purposes for special occasions or for flower arrangements for weddings. 
• Although any flower is appropriate, I love placing my red roses in a glycerin mixture to make them last longer. 

3. Silica Gel Method 

• Take an airtight container and pour some silica gel at the base. 
• Now trim the stems of your selected flowers and place them gently on the gel, ensuring the petals do not touch each other. 
• Now, cover these flowers with another layer of the gel and seal the container. 
• In about 3-4 days, your blooms are perfectly set and can be used for all your DIY creations. 
• I personally enjoy using the silica gel method for my homegrown zinnia and campanula. 

4. Microwave Method 

• Trim the desired flowers from the garden or purchase them from the nearest nursery.
• Cut the stems and leaves of the blooms and keep them away. Do not throw them, as leaves are used as a great filler for decorative purposes. 
• Take a paper towel and place these flowers between two paper towels.
• Place these blooms in the microwave with a microwave-safe dish on the top, but do not press it; just gentle placement. 
• Keep checking the condition of flowers every 30 seconds, as the time varies for each flower. 
• Once done, remove the flowers from the paper towel and let them cool. 
• Chrysanthemums and pansies are my favorite flowers to preserve using this method. 

5. Resin Method 

• Take an airtight container and pour a layer of the resin mixture carefully at the base. 
• Now take the cut flowers, dip, and place the dried flowers on the mixture. 
• Gently cover these blooms with another layer of resin. 
• Use a heat gun to remove any bubbles and let it sit for 3 days before using. 
• This method is popular for the jewelry-making process as it retains the original shape of the flowers. 
• Roses, delphinium, daisies, and baby’s breath flowers are the best blooms to preserve using resin. 

6. Pressing Method 

  Book Method 

• Pressing flowers is the classic way of preserving flowers. 
• Take a piece of parchment paper and place the cut flowers on it separately without letting them touch each other. 
• Fold the paper and keep it between two books with solid covers. 
• The solid book cover is essential so that the books do not fold with the books. 
• In about 3 weeks, the flowers will be dried out perfectly. 
• The pressing method also works for pansies without losing out on their shape and colour. 

Iron Method 

• If you want instant results, instead of placing the paper inside a book, press it gently with your iron for 30 seconds. 
• It is an effective and fast way to dry flowers. 

What are the Benefits of Preserved Flowers?

Preserved flowers are eco-friendly and much easier to care for than fresh ones, along with being cost-effective and versatile. 

Now that you know how to preserve flowers forever, here are the benefits of preserving flowers and why it is a much smarter choice: 

1. Dried/preserved flowers are much easier to care for, as they do not require sunlight, water, and other nutrients like the fresh flowers. 
2. They are eco-friendly, as there is no use of fertilizer for care, and they last forever, so the waste production is also reduced. 
3. Preserved flowers can be used not only in flower arrangements but also for DIY, decor purposes, and meaningful gifts, which makes them highly versatile. 
4. They are also cost-effective, not only because they are cheaper to buy but also because they can be dried at home with minimal effort. 

How to Make Preserved Flowers Last Longer? 

Preserved flowers can last up to 3-5 years, depending on the provided care requirements. 

Take a look at the care tips for flowers preserved through different methods: 

1. Keep it away from high-humidity areas, as moisture leads to mould growth and discoloration. 
2. Unlike fresh flowers, the dried ones do not like direct sun exposure, as it makes the petals even more brittle and prone to breaking. 
3. Regularly clean the preserved flowers by cleaning them with a feather brush to remove the dust and dirt from them. 

Where to Use the Preserved Flowers? 

Preserved flowers are mainly used for DIY purposes or decorative purposes like wall art and more. Just like the blooms used in flower corsages and wedding decor, the dried ones also have their own ornamental uses.

Take a look at where you can use the preserved flowers: 

1. Flower Arrangements: Preserved flowers can also be used to make flower arrangements for gifting purposes, especially with those gifted by the other person.
2. Wall Art: By preserving the dried flowers in a frame, they can make wonderful wall art that looks aesthetic and elegant. 
3. Home Decor: Make a preserved flower potpourri and place it in the living area for a fresh and aromatic addition to the indoor decor.
4. Jewelry: Dried flowers in resin are used popularly in jewelry making, as they easily retain the original shape of the flowers and look as natural as possible. 

Concluding Remarks 

Learning how to preserve flowers has helped make my blooms last longer than ever. While fresh flowers have their own charm, the preserved flowers open doors for more use case scenarios like wall art and jewelry. 

Additionally, the easiest way to preserve flowers, according to me, is the microwave method if you want quick results and the pressing method if you do not want to put in much effort. Either way, these blooms find a way to look aesthetically pleasing.

FAQs