How to Create Beautiful Dried Flowers: Four Easy Methods

Dried flowers perfect wreaths, forever bouquets, and decor projects — preserving your garden's bounty. Several methods work: hanging upside down, laying flat (for heads), pressing, or microwaving.

Air-Drying Whole Flowers

1. Choose not-fully-open, not-quite-mature flowers (they continue opening as they dry; fully mature lose petals).
2. Cut morning after dew dries; use sharp scissors.
3. Remove unneeded foliage.
4. Bring inside immediately.
5. Bundle small groups or leave individual. Hang upside down with string/dental floss in cool, dark, dry spot with good air circulation to prevent mold.
6. Done when dry and stiff to touch (days to weeks depending on conditions and flower type).

Drying Flower Heads

1. Pick not-fully-open heads; cut just below bloom.
2. Lay on newspaper in cool, dry spot.

Pressing Flowers

1. Choose not-fully-open, not-quite-mature flowers.
2. Lay flat between two sheets of plain paper; place in book. Weight for several weeks until dry to touch. (Flower presses work too.)

Microwave Drying

1. Pick just before opening.
2. In shallow microwave-safe container, gently cover flowers with silica sand (craft stores) or equal parts borax and cornmeal. Fill trumpet/cup-shaped flowers to hold shape.
3. Leave container open. Microwave on high ~1 minute. Check; repeat if needed. Thick petals take longer.
4. Leave in mixture ~1 day after microwaving to finish drying.

Maintaining Dried Flowers

1. Keep out of direct sunlight to reduce fading.
2. Keep away from heat vents.
3. Dust with feather duster as needed.
4. Store unused in a box in a dry place away from dry heat.