How to Make Dried Flowers: Easy Steps to Do It at Home

Dried flowers are decorative flowers obtained by dehydrating fresh flowers; they retain the flower's form for a long time, and some varieties can basically keep their original color. They last a long time and are simple to care for, and are often used for home decor, making wreaths and filling sachets, making them a very popular craft project.

Before making dried flowers, you must first choose your materials. Flowers with low moisture content and rather firm petals are more suitable, such as roses, baby's breath, forget-me-nots, lavender, strawflowers and hydrangeas, which are less likely to collapse or discolor after drying. When picking or buying, flowers in the half-open state are best; petals of flowers that are too open tend to fall off.

The most commonly used method is natural hanging upside down. Remove the leaves from the lower part of the stems, tie several stems into a small bundle, fasten it tightly with string and hang it upside down in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight; it usually dries completely in one to three weeks, and in humid weather it takes longer. If you want to finish faster and preserve the color, you can bury the flowers completely in desiccant and seal them, and they will dry in a few days; you can also press them in a book to make flat dried flowers, which are suitable for putting in a picture frame as decoration.

Dried flowers should be kept in a dry, ventilated place, avoiding strong sun and damp, otherwise they easily fade or grow mold. For routine dusting, gently sweep with a soft-bristled brush, or use a hair dryer on the cool setting from a distance. The petals are rather brittle, so handle them gently when moving them; this way a bundle of dried flowers can be kept for a very long time.