The aesthetic appeal of flowers has long been acknowledged by people. It is a pity that the life of most flowers is short, as they normally wilt and die shortly after they have fully blossomed. Luckily, one may keep flowers without worrying about wilting if one dries them.
Dried blooms may be used for several things. Receiving Valentines day flowers, mothers day flowers and birthday bouquets can spark the creation of dried flower arrangements. A popular time for drying flowers is spring, owing to the profusion of buds around this season.
The easiest way to dry flowers is by letting them dry alone. Most people remove leaves and small shoots from the stems prior to bunching up several flowers to be dried. The blooms should be suspended from a line and let to dry, with their heads facing down.
One crucial point here is that you should not clump flower bundles too much, or they might take longer to dry. If you hang them facing down, you ensure that the stems do not bend. Doing it the other way usually produces rather droopy-looking flowers.
You must make certain that there is no direct light from the sun reaching the flowers. If you keep your dried flowers in a place where the sun can get to them, they shall end up looking washed-out in color. You must be certain that there is no moisture in the drying area.
Air drying will normally take a couple of weeks to complete. Drying duration varies depending on the water content of the plants as well as general conditions of temperature, humidity and air circulation. A few occasional checks may be wise if you are worried about problems like rot or fungus cropping up.
Blooms with a higher moisture content dry better with the use of a drying agent such as silica gel, which can be readily bought in craft stores. Another way of preservation is by pressing, placing buds in between pages of a newspaper or book. Silica gel drying is the fastest technique at less than a week, while pressing may take as long as or even longer than air drying.
People use dried flowers for a great many arts and crafts projects. Wreaths, bouquets, topiaries and potpourri can be made using dried blooms. If you want a simple use for them, just get a vase, put the flowers in it, then put the vase wherever you want.
Of course, as is true of all ornaments, these blooms may eventually collect dust. Dust your preserved blooms regularly to keep them looking great. Placing mothballs nearby keeps away rodents and other pests that might be interested in wiping out your lovely arrangement as a snack.
The most beautiful blooms may be kept much longer if they are dried, so you can still enjoy them out of season. The products of these drying techniques shall undoubtedy render all the work worthwhile. Drying flowers is a unique and creative way to hold on to keepsakes that would otherwise have wilted away.
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