How to Preserve Peonies

Cut the stem off the peony blossom leaving approximately a half inch. The stems are very difficult to dry. After the flower is dry, you can glue a floral wire into the blossom as an artificial stem so you can use the flowers in a tall arrangement.

Spread one-half to 1-inch layer of desiccant in the bottom of the container. Set the peony blossom onto the desiccant layer so that it faces upright. The layer of desiccant will help to hold the short stem in place. You can add as many blossoms as your container will hold without the flowers overlapping. The petals will dry in their current shape so you do not want them to touch other flowers and bend the petals.

Pour additional desiccant into the flower using a spoon. The silica gel should reach in between the individual petals and cover most of the blossom. Try to retain as much natural shape as possible.

Seal the container with the lid and set the box out of the way so that you do not disturb the flowers as they dry.

Check the flowers every two or three days to view their progress. Dry silica gel crystals are blue but turn pink as they absorb water from the flowers. Peonies will take between one and three weeks to dry completely. The base of the flower will take the longest to dry.

Remove the blossoms from the desiccant after it is completely dry. Gently turn the flower upside down and shake the silica gel desiccant into the box.