How to Dry Gerbera Daisies in a Flower Press

Choose blooms from your Gerbera daisy that have opened fully but haven't begun to wither. Collect the flowers you plan to press before you water for the day and when all dew has dried from the plant.

Cut the stalk of your Gerbera flower using your garden clippers or scissors. If you only want to save the flower, cut the stem at the base of the flower head. If you would like to include the stem in your pressed flower arrangement, cut the stem anywhere along its length. For the daisy to fit, the stem should not be longer than the length of your flower press.

Build the lower layer of your flower press. Place one piece of plywood on a table. Place a double layer of cardboard on the wood, and then place a 1/2-inch thick layer of newspaper on the cardboard. Lay one sheet of white paper on the newspaper.

Arrange the Gerbera daisy flower on the sheet of paper. Press it gently with your palm to make it lay flat. Build the top layers of your flower press with a second sheet of white paper, a 1/2-inch thick layer of newspaper and two layers of cardboard. Place the second piece of plywood on the stack. Secure the flower press with adjustable straps or by tying it together with twine.

Keep your press in a well-ventilated area. Open the press every two days, and replace the newspaper layers with fresh newspaper. This will decrease your drying time and help prevent your flower from turning brown or getting moldy.

Check your daisy after two weeks. Do not remove the white paper until the paper feels dry to the touch. If the paper still feels moist, continue pressing for another week or until the paper is dry. The large bloom of a Gerbera requires two to four weeks to dry thoroughly.