Easy DIY Tips to Preserve Flowers

The reason behind the thought of preserving a flower is quite simple- to keep the memory alive. While most people throw out withered flowers from their vase, a few like to keep them for remembrance sake. Now, the two important questions about preserving flowers are when and how should you do it. The ideal time to keep your flowers in a decorative state forever is when they are in full bloom because that way they stay preserved looking stunning. Turning to the second question, take a look at the list of easy DIY tips on how to preserve flowers. Glycerine Glycerine is a great way to maintain your dried flowers as it acts as a replacement for water resulting in a plant that does not dry out. All you have to do is soak the flowers in glycerine so they can absorb the substance. This will keep them looking very fresh and wrinkle-free. Pros - Very easy to do - Maintains texture of petals Cons - Costly - Colour fades with time - It takes weeks to set Microwaving Microwaving is a unique and somewhat unconventional way to achieve the required level of preserved flowers. This method involves removing the unnecessary stems and covering the flower fully in silica gel. Set the microwave for defrosting for two-five minutes and there you have your new dried flower. Pros - Very fast - Very cost-effective - Hassle-free process Cons - Hard to judge the flowers dryness - Too much heat can make the petals brittle Sand  A convenient way to dry the moisture out of the flowers is to put some sand on them. That’s right, sand is quite an efficient method with simple steps. Cut out the stems and put the flower in the centre of the bowl filled with sand. Then slowly pour the sand on the flower but carefully as you don’t want to damage the petals. After a few mins, take the flower out and brush off the sand grains. Pros - Highly simple - Very cost-effective - Hassle-free process Cons - Can get very messy Pressing  One of the oldest methods to achieve the desired result is pressing. The process involves using heavy books and absorbent paper to press the flowers. Place the flower which is covered by the paper in the centre of the book and close it. Put some heavy books to keep the flower pressed for a few days. Pros - Petals retain texture and colour - Very simple - Very cost-effective Cons - Limits the display of flowers - Flowers can be easily crushed or damaged Silica Gel  Silica gel may not be an easy or cheap method to obtain top-notch preserved flowers but it is highly recommended. Here is how you go about it- first, cut off the stems and pour some silica gel into the petals. Now, place each one of them upright in a box filled with silica gel. Then, bury each flower with the gel and close the lid of the air-tight container. Keep it closed for two weeks. Pros - Easy to check the dryness of the flowers - Can control the dryness of the flowers - The gel can be reused multiple times Cons - Expensive method - Time-consuming Epoxy Resin  The internet is going gaga over epoxy resin for preserving almost everything. This process works quite simply. First, you need to buy a mould of your choice as it will be the decorative piece in your home. Then, pour some resin into the mould, stop halfway to add the flowers and fill the remaining area with the resin. Let it dry for a few hours, once it is hard, you have your new beautiful showpiece. Pros - Make cool shapes - Add bright colours - Fast process Cons - Cannot change the position of the flower - Limits the display of flowers Air Drying One of the easiest ways to preserve flowers is to air dry them. You have to take the leaves off the stem and tie the flowers in small bundles with a rubber band. Now, hang them upside down in a well-ventilated area and out of sunlight. Pros - Flowers retain smell and shape - Hassle-free process Cons - Time-consuming - Petals become very brittle Now that you are aware of the simple ways to preserve flowers, it is time to get your artistic side out and enjoy. Just remember to keep the flowers out of direct sunlight and be patient without yourself and the process.