
Roses signify love and timeless beauty that captures the essence of cherished moments and is often connected to memories you don’t want to forget. But once they begin to wilt, they tend to lose their beauty. Learning how to dry roses ensures that their appeal is preserved.
Fortunately, roses not only add visible charm to your balcony gardens or outdoor living areas for a few months, but can also last forever to preserve your floral memories for a lifetime.
Moving further, let us quickly discover how to dry roses and some astonishing ideas for converting dried roses into beautiful crafts. Read this blog till the end and treasure your floral memories for years.
Prerequisites for Drying Roses and Rose Petals


Before being familiar with how to dry a Rose, you must keep certain prerequisites in mind. These petaled beauties are fragile and require prep before going through the whole drying process.
Take a look at a few dos and don’ts before dehydrating and preserving them.
Select the Right Roses to Dry
If you are wondering about how to dry out Roses, selecting the right type is very important. Although you can dry out any rose, be it a red, white, blue, pink, orange, or yellow rose, some will give you better results than others.
These spring flowers with open blooms may lose their petals once dried, so you must opt for the ones that still haven’t started to decay and whose leaves haven’t fallen off. Also, the picked ones should be free of gnats, fungus, or any sort of disease.
Appropriate Harvesting
The best time to harvest them from your home gardens is during the morning when the dew has dried but before the sun is too hot.
For those who do not have these plants at home, you can buy them from florists, but be sure to remove the plastic wraps and tags before drying.
Removal of Leaves and Thorns
Your next step before drying is to prepare the roses and remove the leaves and thorns. This will help the air to circulate around the blooms, dry them out more evenly, and prevent them from getting moldy.
TIP:
For those who are searching for how to dry out rose petals, you can skip this step and directly pluck the petals from the flower.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Protect the prepared flowers from scorching heat and light, as it may cause the petals to fade or discolor. Select a dry, dark, and well-ventilated area to store them to ensure good air circulation.
Plan your Method
The final step is to plan the suitable method that you will choose for drying them out. Be it simply pressing, air drying, oven drying, or desiccating, each method is different from the others and has its own technique.
After this successful prep work, your flower is ready to be dried and preserved. These dried blooms represent the eternal charm of fresh flowers and immortalize your memories.
Do You Know?
Roses are associated with the June birth flowers and hold a special meaning for June-born people.
How to Dry Roses at Home?
One of the easiest ways to do so is by Air Drying. It is a common process wherein the prepared flowers are hung upside down in a cool, dark place and left for weeks.


Here’s how you can air-dry your roses successfully.
- Begin by gathering freshly plucked roses with their stems and blooms intact.
- Prepare the flowers by dabbing them to remove excess moisture and prickling the leaves and thorns.
- Tie the flower stems using a string, twine, or a rubber band.
- Hang the roses upside down in a warm, dark, and dry place. Ensure to protect them from direct sunlight and maintain a proper distance to facilitate air circulation.
- It will take around two to three weeks for the flowers to dry out completely.
- Lastly, once they are dry, spraying polyurethane or any hairspray helps to keep them shiny and intact.
There are several other ways to dry these heavenly blooms. Whichever way you choose, you must be gentle and patient so that your roses retain their color, shade, and texture.
How to Dehydrate Roses? Explore Popular Methods
Air-drying usually shrinks the flowers to some extent, and blooms hardly last for 1-3 years. In this situation, you must be wondering how to dry roses to keep them forever.
Here are several other methods that prevent the original color of the flower from fading, maintain original size and shape, and are faster drying than the air-drying method.
Microwave Drying Roses

In this method, you can simply dry your roses by placing them in a microwave; all you need is a paper towel and silica gel. These gels are effective and dry out the flowers completely without giving them the time to decompose. Here’s how you can do it.
- Cut the stems accordingly so that they fit in the container.
- Pour 1-2 inches of silica gel into the bottom of a microwave-safe container.
- Place the prepared flower in the gel at a distance and pour some more gel on top of the petals.
- Set the uncovered container in the microwave and start on a medium power setting.
- Once heated, immediately cover the containers and let them cool for 24 hours.
- Finally, remove your roses and wipe off the extra gel using a fine brush.
- Lastly, spray them with an acrylic to keep them long-lasting and appealing.
Oven Drying Roses

Take a look at how to dehydrate Rosa blooms in an oven.
- Start by preheating the oven to 180°F and placing the roses in a non-overlapping layer on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Leave the flowers in the oven for 2-4 hours, with the doors slightly ajar.
- Monitor them every 20-30 minutes and flip them for even drying.
- Continue the process until they are crisp and dry.
- Once done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.
Finally, place them in air-tight containers and seal for prolonged durability.
Air Fryer Dried Roses

Here’s how to dehydrate these petaled beauties in an air fryer.
- Set your air fryer to the dehydration setting around 80-90°C.
- Layer the flowers on the air fryer tray at a distance. Overlapping can cause the discoloration of the blooms.
- Start to dry and keep checking the flowers at intervals so that they don’t overdry.
- 10-15 minutes is sufficient for the flowers to dry in this method.
- Finally, allow them to cool and store them in the airtight containers.
Desiccant Drying

If you want your dried blooms to look as natural as they do fresh, this is the perfect method. In this process, we use desiccant (silica gel), which is readily available in the market, and it is used for sturdy, full-bloom flowers.
Here’s how you can do it.
- Place your flowers in large airtight containers and pour silica gel.
- While burying them in the gel, ensure to cover every part of the flower until it is concealed.
- Seal the containers tightly.
- Within a few days or weeks, the substance will harden, and you can gently remove the vibrant preserved flowers.
It is a time-consuming process but ensures mind-boggling outcomes.
How to Dry Rose Petals?


Learning how to dry these fragrant blooms can be an enjoyable and beneficial experience. Dried florets are vigorously used for many purposes, such as medicinal plants, teas, soaps, potpourri, decor, and much more.
There are several ways to dehydrate these lobes. Take a look at some of the Rose petals drying methods.
- Air Drying: It involves spreading petals in a single layer on a tray or mesh screen, keeping them in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area for about 7-10 days, until they crisp naturally.
- Dehydrator Drying: Place petals in a food dehydrator and set to low heat (95-100°F). They usually dry within a few hours, retaining both color and scent.
- Oven Drying: Begin by preheating the oven to 180°F. Arrange the petals on a baking sheet and dry them on the lowest setting for 10-30 minutes. You should also keep checking at short intervals to avoid burning.
- Microwave Drying: Spread the flower leaves on a paper towel and place them in a microwave-safe plate. Once done, insert the plate in the machine and microwave it for 2 minutes until dry.
- Pressing: You can flatten petals between sheets of absorbent paper inside a heavy book or flower press. Place the book in a warm, ventilated area and put some more weight on the book. Keep checking the florets for 2-6 weeks, until dried and pressed.
Rose petals are timeless, but there are many other flowers like Sunflowers, Chrysanthemums, Cornflowers, Zinnias, Panicle Hydrangeas, and more, that look appealing when dried, elevating the home decor manifold.
What to Do with Dried Roses?
There are many creative and practical uses of dry rose petals in day-to-day life, from decoration to wellness. Here are some inspiring ideas laid out for you.
Herbal Tea

Similar to other plants like Peppermint plants, Munstead Lavender, or Hibiscus, you can add dried peats to green or herbal teas for a subtle aroma, calming effect, and relaxation.
Skincare

Besides essential oil extracts of flowers like Rose of Sharon, Salvia, or Chamomile, dried petals are also used in skincare products like scrubs, bath salts, facial steams, soap bars, or oils to provide a soothing effect.
Potpourri

Mix dried florets with herbs, spices, and essential oils to create a fragrant bowl that naturally freshens up your space. Besides being a great way to use dry rose petals, it is also a chemical-free alternative to artificial air fresheners.
Crafts

You can incorporate them into resin art, bookmarks, decorative coasters, or handmade cards. It is also used to make homemade crafted papers and screens.
Freshen up Your Wardrobes

Place dried petals in a small fabric sachet and hang them in cupboards and drawers to keep them smelling fresh and pleasant. For a stronger scent, you can also add one or two drops of essential oils before sealing the sachet.
Gift Wrapping & Confetti

Sprinkle dried flowers or petals on gift boxes or glue them onto wrapping paper for a charming personal touch. You can also use them instead of synthetic confetti for eco-friendly celebrations.
Bookmarks & Keepsakes

Pressed petals or flowers in paper crafts or journals can be kept as memorable tokens that hold sentimental value. You can also use these paper crafts as bookmarks for your novels and reads.
Framing Photos & Mirrors

Decorate the edges of photo frames or mirrors with dried flowers or florets. It adds a vintage and romantic touch to your home decor and transforms ordinary frames into stunning pieces.
Rose Water

One of the most efficient uses is to boil dried floral lobes in distilled water to create a natural rose water, which is extensively used for skincare and aromatherapy.
Candles

Dehydrated florets are used in many DIYs. One of the popular uses is to embed them into homemade candles for a decorative touch that releases a floral scent.
Jewellery

You can craft unique jewelry pieces by adding small dehydrated florets in resin to make pendants, earrings, or rings that not only preserve their charm forever but also capture the beauty of these blooms.
From beauty products to creative DIYs, these dried blooms offer endless possibilities, making them a timeless way to add meaning to everyday life.
Tips & Tricks on How to Preserve Dried Roses?
Once the blooms are dehydrated, they need a little care to retain their charm for years. Here are some easy ways to keep them looking beautiful.
Keep Away from Direct Sunlight

Prolonged sun exposure can fade the color of the florets. Store them in a shaded spot to maintain their vibrance.
Store in Airtight Containers

Glass jars, metal tins, or sealed boxes help protect the delicate lobes from moisture and dust, keeping them fresh and intact.
Silica Gel

Adding small packets of silica gel prevents humidity from affecting the florets, especially in humid climates.
Light Spray of Hairspray

A fine mist of unscented hairspray helps preserve the shade and prevents crumbling and shredding.
Glycerin Soak

Immersing blooms in a glycerin and water solution keeps them fresh and prevents brittleness, giving them a natural look.
Candying Petals

Brushing the florets with egg white, coating them with fine sugar, and allowing them to settle not only preserves their beauty but also makes them an edible garnish for desserts.
With the right care, these blooms remain fresh and long-lasting and continue to shine, symbolizing elegance and appeal in any setting.
Wrapping Up
Learning how to dry roses opens unlimited possibilities – whether you want to craft, decorate, use them practically in your wellness care, or simply preserve them to cherish the love and memory related to them.
By choosing the right drying method and preserving them with care, you can ensure that these blooms continue to shower their elegance for months and years, even after leaving the gardens.
With ineffable charm and widespread use, these are truly like nature’s little memory jars that capture the essence of a moment, preserving beauty and sentiment together.
When should you start drying roses?
You can start drying them when they are freshly bloomed and fully open, but not wilted.
What is the best way to dry fresh roses?
The best way is to hang them upside down in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place until crisp.
How can you preserve the color of petals while drying?
To preserve the vibrant hue, keep them away from direct sunlight and use various care such as silica gel, glycerin, hairspray, or dusting.
Can dried petals be used for skincare or cooking?
Yes, they are used for cooking, teas, desserts, and various skincare products like soaps, bath salts, perfumes, cosmetics, and rose water.
- How to Dry Flowers – BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine
- Methods of Drying Flowers – New York Botanical Garden