How to Dry Gerber Daisies

Gerber daisies are the fifth most popular cut flower in the world (after roses, carnations, chrysanthemums and tulips). These bright-colored blooms, also known as African or Gerbera daisies, have yellow centers and grow to be about 1 foot tall. Have a bouquet of Gerbers that you'd like to preserve? Use these tips to dry your flowers without losing their bright color.

Straws or newspaper
Silica gel
Microwaveable container

Instructions

- 1
  
  Slit drinking straws lengthwise, and wrap them around the stems of your Gerber daisies while they're still in the vase. Gerbers are phototropic, meaning that they turn toward sunlight, so keeping their stems straight will prevent them from curving and bending over. Damp newspaper can also be wrapped around the stems to keep them upright.
- 2
  If possible, dry your flowers just before they've reached maturity. If the daisies are too mature, the petals may fall off in the drying process.
- 3
  Take your daisies out of the vase for a day or so before drying them. Or, cut off the wet bottom of the stems. Trapped moisture (in stems, leaves or petals) can cause mold to grow later on.
- 4
  Pour 2 to 3 inches of silica gel (don't be confused; it actually consists of fine crystals and not gel) into a container. Place the daisies face down in the gel, arranging the petals carefully so that they're in the desired formation. Put more silica gel in the container until the flowers are fully supported. Don't let the daisies touch each other.
- 5
  You can either let the daisies dry naturally, which will take 2 to 7 days, or microwave them, which will take minutes. If you choose to dry them naturally, check the daisies regularly, as the silica gel can cause them to become too brittle.
- 6
  To microwave your daisies, put a cup of water in the back of the microwave. This will help avoid brittleness and over-drying. Microwave on a low setting for about 2 minutes. Let the daisies cool for 30 minutes, and then check to see if they are dried. The age of the daisies and the type of microwave will cause the optimum drying time to vary, so if your daisies aren't dry yet, repeat this step until they are.
- 7
  Once the daisies are sufficiently microwaved, let the whole container cool overnight, undisturbed. In the morning, brush the silica gel off the flowers with a soft paintbrush. You can reuse the silica gel over and over again. Dried daisies should last for about 1 year.

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