Roses often symbolize a special occasion. You may want to keep them as a memento of an important event, but you know they die in just a few weeks. Drying the roses from your wedding bouquet, prom or even just the ones you picked in the garden is a wonderful way to make a memory that will last for years.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Air-dry the roses
Step 1. Choose to dry the most beautiful buds
You need to find the best flowering ones, but not too moist or flawed. Moisture can cause them to rot, while imperfections can become even more noticeable with the drying process. You should use flowers that are a little open, but not those that have already begun to crumble and have begun to lose petals.
Step 2. Cut the stems
You have to prune them, but not too much; leave 15cm or more of stem for your purpose. Remove the leaves present on the stem; these do not dry well and must therefore be removed.
In addition, they retain water, thus slowing down the drying process as a whole
Step 3. Tie the stems together with a rubber band
Gather all the roses and wrap the stems with an elastic band, leaving at least 5 cm of stem sticking out under the elastic. Continue wrapping the elastic around the stems until the roses are firmly attached.
You can arrange them by creating a pretty bouquet before drying them, so they are ready to be displayed once the procedure is finished
Step 4. Lay out a clothesline in a cool, dark place
Find a room that you don't use very often, such as the laundry room, attic, or closet. the environment must be well ventilated to eliminate the humidity present in the flowers. Stretch a clothesline or rope between two opposite points in the room and tie it securely; make sure it is sturdy enough to hang roses on.
Choose a dark place. The color of the roses becomes dark during the drying process; when you expose them to light, the change is even more drastic, but if you leave them in the dark, that alteration is greatly reduced
Step 5. Attach the roses to a hanger
Pull part of the elastic you used to secure the stems over the hook of a coat hanger. If the hanger has a second hook in addition to the main one, you can use it to fix the roses; if not, use what you have available.
Step 6. Leave the flowers hanging for 2-3 weeks
Place the hanger on the wire of the previously prepared clothesline in a dark room and leave it undisturbed until the roses are dry. It may take several weeks to complete the process.
Step 7. Preserve the roses with a hair spray
Once they are well dehydrated, they become fragile. Detach them from the coat rack and spray them with hairspray to strengthen them and protect them from damage.
- Use an unscented product to spray the roses.
- Do not overdo it with the lacquer, so as not to impregnate the freshly dried flowers too much.
Method 2 of 2: Use a Desiccant to Dehydrate the Roses
Step 1. Choose the right product
The desiccant is a sandy substance that absorbs moisture from the flowers, making the procedure quicker and more homogeneous. There are several products on the market that you can choose from, such as borax, cornmeal, alum and the most common option, silica gel.
This method is also effective with sand
Step 2. Reduce the stem to 5 cm
You need to be able to place the rose with the bud facing up inside an airtight container. Then cut the stem to 5 cm, making sure it fits into the bowl and that you can close the lid.
If the stem is still too long, cut back a little more until the flower fits perfectly into the container
Step 3. Put the rose in the desiccant
Pour 5 cm of product into the container and insert the stem, so that the flower is facing upwards.
If you are dehydrating more than one rose, make sure there is at least 2.5cm of space between each flower
Step 4. Cover the rest of the rose with the desiccant
Use a small cup and pour some more substance on the flower, so as to cover it entirely; make sure that the product penetrates well between the petals. If the flower falls to the side, take a spoon to straighten it until it comes back into balance.
Step 5. Leave the rose in the airtight container for 1-2 weeks
Cover the container with a sealable lid; if you want to be even safer, you can wrap some masking tape around the edges. Then let the flowers rest undisturbed for 2 weeks. Small roses already dehydrate after a week.
Write down the day you sealed the container by writing it on one side of the container with a pen
Step 6. Remove the rose from the bowl and shake off the desiccant
Gently pour the powder into a baking sheet. Grab the rose by the stem and shake it a little to get rid of the excess product. Gently brush the petals using a brush if any dust remains.
- If any residue sticks to the flower, pour more desiccant over the problem areas to get rid of any remaining traces.
- By pouring the silica desiccant into a baking sheet, you are ready to cook and reuse it.
Step 7. Cook the silica for reuse
The silica desiccant shows signs of moisture when it fades or changes color. If it fades, blue turns pink or orange turns green; you can then dry it by putting it in the oven.
- Pour the desiccant into a microwave safe container. Set the appliance on medium power or on the defrost program. Cook the desiccant for 2-3 minutes or until it returns to its normal color and is ready to use again.
- Remove the bowl from the oven using a pot holder, as both the container and the silica are very hot. Wait for it to cool by placing it on a heat-resistant surface for 24 hours.
- If the desiccant shows signs of humidity due to the humid ambient air, put it in the oven before the first use.
