For making dried flowers, is it better to use a desiccant or to dry them in the sun? Here is the difference
Dried flowers are incredibly popular right now. Put them in a room and they look beautiful and add a lovely atmosphereusing a desiccant and simply air-drying in the sun. So which one should you choose? Today we will explain it properly.
The drying principles are different
Desiccant method
The desiccant method uses super-absorbent materials like silica gel beads or borax to quickly pull the water out of fresh flowers. This preserves the flower's original color and shape very well, and the cell structure of the petals is less likely to be damaged, so there is much less deformation and fading.
Sun-drying method
The sun-drying method is a bit simpler and rougher. It relies on sunlight and air circulation to let the water in the flowers slowly escape. But natural conditions are hard to control, the water evaporates slowly, and the flowers are exposed outside for a long time, going from hot to cold and constantly hit by ultraviolet light, so the color and shape easily run into problems.
The process is different
Desiccant method
First you need to prepare a desiccant and a box that can be sealed. Gently place the flowers in the box, arrange them neatly, and do not crush them. Then slowly pour in the desiccant so that it fills every gap around the flowers and completely covers them. Then seal the box and put it in a dry, cool place. The drying time is usually just a few days to a week. But note that the desiccant may be corrosive, so never let it touch your skin or eyes, and the box must be sealed well so moisture cannot get in.
Sun-drying method
Pick a nice sunny day, tidy up the flowers, and remove the extra leaves and spent blooms. Use string or thin wire to tie the stems together and hang them upside down in a well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight. While drying, check on them often and do not let them get too dry, or the petals will easily become brittle. Sun-drying generally takes one to two weeks, or even longer, and you also need to be careful not to let the flowers be blown about by wind or rained on, or they will deform and go moldy.
The finished results are different
In terms of color
Dried flowers made with a desiccant have especially vivid color, almost no different from the original flowers, because the drying is fast and the pigments do not break down or oxidize much. Sun-dried flowers are not like that. After long exposure to sunlight, the color easily fades and the saturation drops quite a bit.
In terms of shape
The desiccant method preserves the flower's original shape very well, and the petals stay fairly firm, looking nicely layered. Sun-dried flowers, because the water dries unevenly, tend to have petals that curl up and wrinkle, so the shape is not as attractive.
The suitable uses are different
Desiccant method
If you are after high quality and have high standards for how good the dried flowers look, for example displaying them in an upscale home or entering an artistic flower-arranging exhibition, dried flowers made with the desiccant method are very suitable. If you have precious flowers and want to preserve them well, you can use this method too.
Sun-drying method
Sun-dried flowers have a natural, rustic feel, very suitable for pastoral-style or retro-style interiors. It is also low-cost and simple to do, so if you want to make dried flowers in large quantities, such as large decorations for a hotel lobby, the sun-drying method is quite economical.
The desiccant method and the sun-drying method each have their own advantages and drawbacks. If you want the ultimate result and do not mind the hassle and cost, then choose the desiccant method; if you like a natural style and want to save money, the sun-drying method is good enough. You can decide which method to use based on your own preferences, the flower variety, and the purpose.