How to Dry a Bouquet of Roses in the Microwave

Whether you grew gorgeous roses in flowerbeds or received a bouquet for a special occasion, the flowers will wilt and turn brown if allowed to hang on the vine or sit in a vase. Soon, they will be nothing but a memory. That's why it's a good idea to preserve them. There are a few different ways to dry roses, including air drying or placing them in a conventional oven. If you're looking for an easy way to preserve your roses, look no farther than the microwave oven.

Microwave-safe bowls
Silica gel
Artist's paintbrush
Clothespins
Florist wire
Clothesline

Instructions

- 1
  Trim each rose to about 1/4 inch.
- 2
  Pour a 1/2 inch of silica gel into a microwave-safe bowl. Gently place the rose stems into silica gel. Space them at least 2 inches apart.
- 3
  Spoon the silica gel around the perimeter of the roses. Gently sprinkle silica gel granules on top of the flowers. Carefully cover the roses completely with the gel.
- 4
  Place the bowl in a microwave oven. Set the oven at the highest level and run the oven for two minutes. Because microwave ovens are made with different power levels, the heat and/or time to get the best-looking roses may have to be adjusted.
- 5
  Allow roses to be used in making a bouquet to sit for three hours. Carefully pour out the silica gel granules and the roses into another bowl. Brush the gel off each rose, using a paintbrush.
- 6
  Wrap a length of florist's wire around the stem of each rose. The length of the wire will depend on how long you want the stems to be in the bouquet.
- 7
  Hang a clothesline up in a dark room. Hang each rose by its wire, using a clothespin. Allow the roses to dry for a three to five days before using them.

How to Change Flower Colors With Food Coloring

How to Decorate With Fresh Flowers

Floral Designs