Originally Published In The Deseret News -- Wednesday, November 2, 1994
It appears that the last rose of summer is still out there. Drying these and other flowers saves blossoms for year-round enjoyment in arrangements, wreaths or other decorations. Pluck them and try your hand at this fascinating hobby.
Drying flowers requires rapid moisture removal to retain color and form. Dry them by one of three different methods. Many flowers dry well in warm air with no light. Others need a drying agent or desiccate, while others can be dried in a microwave oven.
Late fall may not be the very best time to experiment with all varieties. Choose flowers in perfect condition as small flaws are greatly amplified as blossoms are dried. Choose flowers in various stages of development, but avoid over-mature blossoms as petals fall. They open further as they dry, so avoid old specimens. Look carefully for quality blossoms, and they'll dry well because they have not been subjected to hot sun or summer heat.
Start drying blossoms immediately after picking. Colors change with reds and purples darkening and yellows and greens beginning to fade. White turns a cream or a beige while rust turns brown. Oranges sometimes turn red while blues or oranges or pinks generally retain their color best. Flowers grown in shade or picked past their prime turn a sickly brown.
Air drying is a simple process of hanging the blossoms upside down in a warm, dark place. Unused rooms, garden sheds or garages are excellent. Small flowers on short stems dry well by air drying as do plant materials that dry naturally and retain their form. As you gather flowers, form small bunches to avoid crushing and moldy foliage. Put rubber bands around the stems and then hang them upside down. A few flowers keep their form better if they are not hung upside down. Stand these upright in tall cans or jars.
Disiccates absorb water to dry and preserve flowers. Blossoms retain their color and shape better than with air drying. Desiccates cost money and may stick to or damage the petals. Flowers dried with desiccates may reabsorb moisture from the air and droop after they are arranged.
Fine washed sand and silica gel are also suitable for drying flowers. A mixture of one part sand or white corn meal with two parts borax also works. Add three tablespoons of non-iodized salt per quart to retain colors. Unfortunately, this mixture may cake or stick to flowers.
Silica gel resembles fine white sand and absorbs up to 40 percent of its weight in water. It won't damage delicate flowers and is least likely to cake or stick. It's available at craft and hobby stores and costs several dollars a pound. Fortunately, it is reusable indefinitely.
When using drying agents, gather unblemished flowers and cut the stems 2 inches long. Put florist wire into the blossoms to replace the stem and bend the wire to fit into the container. Place flowers face down and flowers like roses face up. Allow an inch or more of space between each flower. When flowers are in place, carefully cover them with a desiccate. Leave flowers in the desiccate until the petals are crispy and papery. After drying, carefully pour out the silica gel until each flower is removed.
If the silica gel absorbs too much moisture, reactivate it by heating in an oven at 275 degrees for 20 minutes. Many brands have pink granules that turn bright blue when the silica dries out. It requires reactivating after it's been used four or five times.
Microwave drying is also effective. It is sometimes done with desiccates to keep the flowers' shapes. Microwave drying requires experimentation. Place the flowers on a napkin and dry for about two minutes on high as a test. Depending on the moisture content and size of the flower the times will need to be adjusted. Gather some colored leaves to dry in the microwave. Put one or two inside a paper napkin, and place a microwavable plate or cup on top to keep the leaves from curling. Run the microwave on high for two minutes. If the flowers are still damp, heat them a little longer. Microwaving is quick, and flowers retain their color and shape. Use paper towels around the blooms and don't overcook them or you'll end up with boiled salad.
Treat dried flowers with clear plastic craft spray, hair spray or lacquer and store them in a box with tissue paper. Dust, insects and mechanical damage are the mortal enemies of dried flowers. Flowers do best when protected from these fatalities. Beautiful dried flower arrangements dating back several centuries are museum pieces. Buy a glass dome or box to display your handiwork. Since pests are almost always present, add a moth ball periodically to keep them away. Drying flowers is a fun and fascinating hobby that extends the enjoyment of your garden. If you enjoy dried flowers this fall, keep reading and next spring I'll write about special varieties to grow that dry well.
© 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.