Drying Flowers – 5 Methods for Perfect Dried Flowers
Drying flowers — 5 methods for perfect dried flowers
Air drying, pressing, silica gel, glycerin, and more: how to preserve flowers forever
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Dried flowers have been one of the biggest décor trends of recent years — and they’re surprisingly easy to make yourself. Whether it’s a bridal bouquet, your favorite flowers, or garden roses, this is how to keep flowers beautiful for months and even years.
Which flowers are suitable for drying?
Not every flower dries equally well. The best candidates have low moisture in their petals and a firm structure:
Perfect for drying
- Roses: The classic choice — they dry beautifully, especially garden roses with many petals.
- Lavender: Keeps its color and fragrance. Perfect for small bouquets and scented sachets.
- Hydrangeas: The full, rounded blooms dry to a papery finish and keep their shape.
- Eucalyptus: Especially beautiful with the glycerin method — stays flexible and keeps its color.
- Pampas grass: The Instagram star — dries perfectly and lasts for years.
- Strawflowers: Specially grown for drying — their vibrant colors stay intact.
- Baby’s breath: Almost dries on its own and stays white and airy.
- Thistles/Eryngium: Sculptural and blue-silver — perfect for modern dried flower arrangements.
Less suitable
- Tulips: Too much moisture — they often become wrinkled when dried.
- Gerberas: Lose their shape and color.
- Lilies: Turn brown and unattractive.
- Dahlias: Difficult — only certain varieties dry reasonably well.
Method 1: Air drying (upside down)
The easiest and most popular method — all you need is patience and a dry room.
- Preparation: Harvest flowers while they are still fresh (don’t wait until they start to wilt). Remove the lower leaves.
- Hanging: Tie small bunches (3–5 stems) together with a rubber band and hang them upside down.
- Location: Dark, dry, and well ventilated. An attic, storage room, or cupboard — NOT in the kitchen or bathroom (too humid).
- Duration: 2–4 weeks, depending on the flower variety and humidity.
- Result: A natural vintage look. Colors become more muted — red turns deep red, pink becomes dusty rose.
Why upside down? Gravity helps the blooms keep their shape. If you dry them upright, the flower heads droop downward and become misshapen.
Method 2: Pressing flowers
The best method for flat creations: cards, frames, resin jewelry, bookmarks.
- How to do it: Place the flower between sheets of baking paper, put it inside a heavy book, and add extra weight on top.
- Duration: 2–4 weeks. Change the paper every few days (it absorbs moisture).
- Suitable flowers: Flat blooms like pansies, daisies, forget-me-nots, individual rose petals, and fern.
- Faster: Use a flower press or microwave (between sheets of baking paper, 30 seconds on low power, let cool, repeat).
Method 3: Silica Gel
The best method for preserving color and shape — almost like fresh.
- Material: Silica gel beads (online or from a craft store). Reusable.
- How to do it: Add a layer of silica gel to an airtight container, place the flower inside, then carefully cover it with gel (between every petal!).
- Duration: 3–7 days (depending on flower size).
- Result: Colors stay almost exactly as they were. The shape remains three-dimensional.
- Ideal for: Preserving a bridal bouquet, single flower heads, gifts.
Method 4: Glycerin Bath
Replaces the water in the plant with glycerin — keeping the flower flexible and supple.
- Mixture: 1 part vegetable glycerin + 2 parts hot water.
- How to do it: Trim the stems fresh, then place them in the mixture as you would in a vase.
- Duration: 1–3 weeks. The leaves feel soft and leathery when it's done.
- Perfect for: Eucalyptus, boxwood, ivy, and other leafy greens.
- Result: Leaves become darker but stay flexible — perfect for wreaths and garlands.
Method 5: Hairspray / Fixing Spray
The fastest method — but also the least long-lasting.
- How to do it: Spray the dried flower (after air-drying) with hairspray or a special dried flower spray.
- Effect: Protects against crumbling and dust buildup. Helps the shape stay in place.
- Durability: Extends their lifespan by several months.
- Alternative: A special dried flower fixing spray from a craft store works better than regular hairspray.
Caring for dried flowers: No water, no direct sunlight (it fades the colors), gently remove dust with a soft brush or hairdryer (cool setting). Dried flowers last 1–3 years.
Can you dry tulips? Yes, but tulips are less suitable than other flowers — they lose their shape quickly. Roses, hydrangeas, and lavender are better choices.
Fresh flowers for drying at MO BLUMEN Vienna
Roses, hydrangeas, eucalyptus, and more — fresh from the florist, perfect for drying yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
With proper care, 1–3 years. Pampas grass and strawflowers last even longer. What matters most is: no direct sunlight (it causes fading), no moisture (risk of mold), and occasional dusting. Dried flowers treated with fixing spray last longer than untreated ones.
Yes — and ideally this should happen as soon as possible after the wedding (start the same day). Air drying (upside down) is the easiest method. For the best possible color retention: silica gel. Professional flower preservation specialists can also encase the bouquet in epoxy resin.
Either they were dried too late (the flowers were already wilting), dried too slowly (damp room — mold starts to develop), or exposed to too much sunlight while drying. Tip: Always dry flowers in a dark, dry, well-ventilated place and start drying them while they’re still fresh.
Yes — with a special flower spray (available in many colors at craft stores) or textile dye. Simply spray it on carefully or dip the flowers in. Food coloring in a glycerin bath can also affect the color. White or light dried flowers take color best.
To dry them, hang the flowers in a dry place — ideally in a cool, dark spot so they don’t lose too much color. The process takes several weeks until the flowers are completely dry. If you’re pressing them, place the blooms on an absorbent surface or a piece of cardboard.
Further reading:
For detailed tips on timing, flower selection, and common mistakes, also read our guide: Drying Flowers – Methods, Tips & Common Mistakes.