How to Home Dry Flowers

Air-Drying

• 1

  Pick the flowers in the middle of the day when they are dry. Remove extra leaves from the flowers and cut the stems to the desired length.

• 2

  Tie small bunches of the picked flowers together with string or a rubber band.

• 3

  Hang the flowers in a dark, dry area such as a closet or shed. The flowers should hang for two to three weeks until completely dry, which will be when the stems snap easily.

Burying in Drying Material

• 4

  Remove all leaves from the stems of the cut flowers. Flowers should be buried in silica gel, which can be purchased at a garden center or flower shop.

• 5

  Bury the flowers in a closed container and leave for three weeks. It is only necessary to cover the flowers in the mixture; the stems will dry over time.

• 6

  Remove flowers carefully from the silica gel and shake gently to clean. Save the silica gel as it can be used over and over by drying the gel in a warm oven.

Dry Flowers in the Microwave.

• 7

  Place the flowers in a microwave-safe dish and surround with silica gel. This is needed to help the flowers keep their shape.

• 8

  Set the timer for three minutes for heavier flowers and one minute for lighter, thinner-petaled flowers. Microwave temperatures will vary so check flowers for dryness after one minute on high.

• 9

  Remove container from the microwave and let the flowers cool for 24 hours. Remove dried flowers from silica gel and gently shake to clean.