A bouquet is probably one of the best gifts that anyone can receive. Unfortunately, its beauty and fragrance don’t last that long. No matter how gorgeous the arrangement is, its life is limited by its natural withering.
This is where dried flowers come in. Dried flowers are a great alternative to the traditional bouquets that we know. Although they’re not as vibrant and fragrant as the regular ones, dried flowers are in a league of their own.
If you want to know more about it, read on!
What Are Dried Flowers?
They are the result of various processes that preserve the life of the flowers and make them last for months. Simply put, they are purposely dried so you can appreciate the bouquet for much longer.
However, dried flowers are not as colourful as raw and natural flowers. But it doesn’t mean that they’re not gorgeous enough to give to someone.
The drying process may eliminate some of their natural colours, but it doesn’t eliminate the innate beauty of the flower. In fact, it gives the bouquet a different kind of charm that can make anyone blush.
Dried flowers are normally arranged as a bouquet or a wreath. But sometimes, they’re also used as a fashion accessory or a decorative piece in a room. Pretty much like the fresh flowers, right? The only difference is that dried flowers will last longer!
How to Make Dried Flowers
There are several ways to make a gorgeous bunch. Depending on what flowers you want to dry, or what kind of tools you have at your house, the process may vary. Below are only some of them:
Pressing
This technique is probably the most common process. Especially for flowers that have flat faces like daisies, petunia, pansies, and violas.
The process is pretty simple. All you have to do is to put the flower in between two sheets of blotting paper or newspaper. Then press them by placing something heavy on it like a stack of books.
Wait for two to four weeks for the results.
Hanging or Air-drying
Air-drying is also not that complicated, that’s why it’s perfect for DIYs. Below are the steps that you should follow.
1. Remove the leaves of the flowers that you’re drying.
2. Tie them using a wire
3. Hang the bouquet upside down in your attic, pantry, and closet. Or any place in your home that is warm, dry, and dark.
Depending on the type of flower that you’re hanging, the duration of drying will vary. To achieve better results, just check them once a week and see if you’re okay with the appearance.
One of the signs that the dried flowers are good to go is if they feel crisp.
Dehydrator
If you want more accurate results, using a dehydrator is the way to go. Using this appliance will allow you to retain the form and shape of your flowers. Sometimes, you can even keep or enhance their scent.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Spread all the flowers in one layer. Make sure that the stem, petals, or leaves of the flowers don’t overlap each other.
2. Prepare the machine by pre-heating it. If you’re drying flowers with thinner structures, pre-heat the dehydrator to 95-100°F. If the part of the flowers is thick, set it up to 110°F.
3. To keep or enhance the fragrance of the flower, you can add 100 drops of essential oils.
4. Put the flowers in the dehydrator.
5. Check the flowers every one hour.
6. It can take you about 4 hours to complete the process. But once you’re satisfied with the result, take them out of the dehydrator.
And that’s how you can make your own bouquet of dried flowers! If these processes are too much for you, or you don’t have the time to do it, you can simply order from flower delivery Melbourne services.