Have you ever received a rose from a special person and wanted to keep it? Whether you want to keep a huge bouquet on display or a single rose for sentimental reasons, be gentle when handling dried flowers. You can extend its life by using silica gel, other products you have around the house, or simply by hanging roses. Whichever method you use, be sure to take care of them before cutting them to ensure the best results.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: with Silica Gel
Step 1. Choose the best buds and place them in the silica gel
Take those that do not have any traces of moisture; Roses should be dry to the touch but not so dry that they lose their luster. The drying process highlights even more the defects of the flowers, especially those caused by humidity. Pour 2 inches of silica gel (available at home improvement stores) into an airtight container. cut stems about 5 cm and place the roses upside down in the gel. Make each surface come into contact with the substance by gently moving the flowers in a circle; Fill the container and make sure it stays sealed by closing the lid with tape.
- Know that the more intense the color, the more it will keep once the flower has dried.
- Pour the silica gel into a small bowl to give you more control over the process.
- Check that the gel reaches all the petals, but be careful not to squeeze or damage them; use a stick to keep them open and separate when you spread the substance.
- Use a layer of at least 2-3cm of gel to keep the roses separate in the same container.
- Remember to write the name of the flower and the date you placed it in the container.
- Keep the container sealed for at least two weeks if they are standard roses, while one week is enough if they are miniature roses.
- Alternatively, place the gel and flower in a microwave safe dish and place them in this oven for 2-5 minutes on the minimum temperature setting. Then expose everything to the air for 24 hours before cleaning the rose from the gel.
Step 2. Remove the silica gel
Carefully pour it into another container. Hold the rose upside down by grabbing it by the stem and gently rub it to remove the gel; use a painter's or make-up brush and scrub it to remove the substance. You can keep the fallen petals and glue them on later.
To attach the loose petals, use a glue gun or toothpick to apply a gummy glue. Then distribute the petals around the external base of the glass, under the bud, without exaggerating with the adhesive so that it is not visible; let it dry for 24 hours
Step 3. Prepare a finish
Wear protective equipment: rubber gloves, face mask and goggles; mix 60ml xylene-based sealant and 90ml denatured alcohol in a bowl.
- Know that if you want to attend a garden show or exhibition, you cannot use this type of sealant before displaying the rose.
- The sealant is a clear, glossy paint that is typically used in construction; when using it to store the rose, be sure to handle it very carefully, wearing gloves and protective eyewear.
- Denatured alcohol is often used for house cleaning but is toxic if swallowed, so use protective clothing and always wash your hands thoroughly after use.
Step 4. Spray the mixture
Use a 180ml spray gun and spread the sealant and alcohol solution by applying a thin layer to the surface of the rose; make sure that the ambient temperature is around 20 ° C with a humidity rate of no more than 50%.
Let the rose dry for 24 hours or more; once the finish is dry, repeat the process and apply a second coat
Step 5. Retrieve the silica gel
To eliminate the humidity present in it, you can place it on a baking sheet and "cook" it for an hour at 120 ° C; when the crystals turn a deep cobalt blue color, "take them out of the oven" and wait for them to return to room temperature. Once it has cooled, place the gel in a sealable container and close the lid with masking tape.
Method 2 of 3: Dry a Rose
Step 1. Use a color guide to choose the variety to dry
There are many varieties of roses that retain their brilliance even when dried; From classic red roses to bright purple ones, use the guidelines below to choose the rose that best suits your needs:
- Red and flecked with red: Veterans' Honor, Miss Flippins, Olympiad, AceyDeucy, Mountie, Hilde, Coffee Bean, Chelsea Belle, Black Jade, Christian Dior;
- Roses and pink-flecked: Show Stopper, Fame, Adams Smile, Timeless, Hanna Gordon, Prima Donna, Rina Hugo, Giggles, Gemini, Valeria Jeanne, Doris Morgan;
- Orange and orange streaked: Kanegem, Starina, Gingersnap, Tropicana, Impatient, Rio Samba, Denver's Dream, Hot Tamale, Fragrant Cloud, Mardi Gras, Perrine, Copper Sunset;
- Yellow and flecked with yellow: Cal Poly, Julia Child, Henry Fonda, Behold, Summer Sunshine, Sunsprite, Midas Touch, Rainbow's End, Oregold, Bees Knees, Gold Metal, Risen'Shine, Glory Be;
- Apricot and mottled colors: Holy Toledo, Honey Perfume, Amber Sunblaze, Tahitian Sunset, Apricot Twist, Michel Cholet, Angel's Blush, Jeanne Kenneally, Joycie, Autumn Sunset;
- Purple and Mauve: Lavender Jewel, Barbra Streisand, Dr John Dickman, Fragrant Plum, Vista, Ebb Tide, Winsome, Distant Drums, Wild Blue Yonder;
- Rust-colored: Teddy Bear, Hot Cocoa, Copper Sunset;
- Fancy colors: Gizmo, Fourth of July, Fancy Pants, Purple Tiger, Neon Cowboy, Hurdy Gurdy.
Step 2. Use a heavy book and some paper towels
Protect the pages of the book by placing blotting paper on both sides of the rose to prevent the pigments of the petals and stem from staining them. Insert a flower every few pages of the book, close it and place other volumes or some heavy objects on top; wait about a week for the flowers to dry before checking.
- Replace the paper towels every week and let the roses dry for another three weeks or more.
- Make sure they are as dry as possible before crushing them; do not transfer them directly from the jar to the book, but shake them to remove excess water.
Step 3. Use a waterless iron
Place each rose between two layers of absorbent paper and heat the iron to the minimum temperature; check that the appliance does not contain water, because you do not have to wet the flowers with steam, risking to ruin all the work. Flatten them by pressing them with a book after placing them between two sheets of paper and place the iron on the surface of the paper for 10-15 seconds; wait the same time and then repeat.
Do not slide the iron on the rose, simply press it on the sheet of paper; check carefully by lifting the paper to verify that the flower has actually dried
Step 4. Air dry the roses
When they are almost ready to bloom, hang them in a dry, warm and dark area; make sure there is good ventilation and let them dry like this for about 2-3 weeks. Hang them upside down using string to tie the stems together.
- Holding them upside down prevents moisture from getting trapped between the petals, otherwise it could cause mold and damage the flowers.
- Roses shrink as they dry out, so you may need to tighten the lace better to keep them in place.
- Be careful when handling dried flowers as they are very fragile.
Step 5. Protect them
You don't have to expose dried flowers to direct sunlight and don't put them under a table lamp; keep them in a glass dome or box to avoid having to handle them, as they are very delicate.
Method 3 of 3: Extend the Life of Cut Roses
Step 1. Use a sanitized toilet bowl
Wash it thoroughly with very hot soapy water. Use a bottlebrush to scrub the interior walls and remove any dirt, then soak the jar in a 5% bleach solution for a few minutes.
- To prepare this disinfectant mixture, use 200 ml of bleach for every 4 liters of water; this dilution ratio is also good for cleaning shears before cutting roses.
- If you don't clean the vase well, bacteria can remain and cause freshly cut roses to deteriorate.
Step 2. Water the flowers and observe the buds you want to cut
Wet them well in the evening before proceeding with the cut. Thanks to excess water, they have more nutrients; as you water them observe which ones you want to take so that you can cool them down immediately after picking them up the next morning.
Step 3. Cut them at the ideal time of the day
The morning is perfect, proceed as soon as there is sunlight, which can happen between 5:00 and 10:00 depending on the time of year. Cut them early during the summer season or proceed late in the morning if there is a lot of dew.
- Don't cut them off at noon or in the afternoon when they have the least amount of nutrients.
- Keep them cold. They last longer in cold climates and deteriorate with heat; if you live in a cold region, you can also cut them late in the morning.
Step 4. Be aware of the opening level of the bud you want
The degree of flowering depends on the use you want to make of the roses. If you want them to last a long time to fit into a bouquet, cut them as soon as they are past the bud stage, when the petals begin to open outward. The variety of the rose determines when it opens and also when you should cut it, as some tend to mature at a later stage.
For example, the St. Patrick and Moonstone ones have many petals and can be cut when they are more open
Step 5. Cut off the stems several times
Make a diagonal incision using sharp, clean shears; this precaution prevents the stem from resting flat on the bottom of the vase, which would block the absorption of water. Place the flowers in warm or cold water immediately after cutting; cut off the stems again when they are submerged to eliminate air bubbles that could shorten the life of the roses.
If you need to create a bunch, remove the leaves that are below the water level
Step 6. Treat and cool the bouquets
Fill a bucket with water so that the stems are completely submerged while the buds stay dry and let the roses soak up the water in a dark room for an hour; keep them at 3 ° C until it is time to use them.
Cut roses last longer if stored in the refrigerator overnight
Step 7. Choose "long-lived" varieties
Florists grow varieties that last a long time once placed in pots. If you are using roses that grow in your garden, look at the ones that live the longest after being cut; hybrids are typically longer lasting than ancient varieties.
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The ones that tend to last the longest in pots are:
- Crystalline;
- Secret;
- Red intuition;
- St. Patrick;
- Veteran's Honor;
- Black magic;
- Andrea Stelzer;
- Louise Estes;
- Moonstone;
- Elizabeth Taylor.
Preserve a Rose Step 18 Step 8. Use flower preservatives and change the pot water often
Preservatives are available online or at garden centers, and you can pour them into pot water to extend the life of the roses. Replace the water often, as the old one contains a lot of bacteria; the sweetened one could contain salts potentially harmful to the flowers.
Cut the roses under water daily when you change the one in the vase
Advice
Handle dried roses with great care as they are very fragile and can break
Warnings
- If you don't use blotting paper or tissue paper when pressing roses with books, their color stains the volume indelibly.
- Once dry, roses are very crumbly, so you need to handle them carefully.
- When you hang them their color fades.
