How do I preserve live flowers?

Question

Has anyone preserved live flowers, is it difficult? How long do they last?

Answer 1

Most "everlastings" can be dried to look as beautiful as they were in life. Pick them in the morning. Tie them in bundles, not too thick as they need air circulation. Hang them upside down out of direct sunlight where they will get some air. A couple of weeks should do it, depending on ambient temperature and humidity etc. but you can leave them there indefinitely. Some dry better than others, but statice are best for retaining their brilliant color.

Answer 2

There are several methods the quickest is the pressing as mentioned by another but you can also use silica sand and completely dry them then after they are dried you can preserve them with wax both are time consuming and some craft stores sell kits for the drying part. A lot of flowers can be dried just by hanging upside down by their stems in a place out of the way with some air flow around them. Roses, Babies Breath, Status, straw flowers to mention a few. Depending on the method used and what you do with them after you preserve them will determine how long they will last.

Answer 3

To preserve fresh flowers, use a flower press, which is two pieces of wood, with layers of cardboard and blotting paper sandwiched between them, and held together by a bolt/screw and wingnuts.

It's really easy to use; just put the flowers between two pieces of blotting paper and place between a layer of cardboard and place it in the press. Then tighten down the top using the wingnuts. Tighten it a little more each day, as the flowers get thinner. After about 3 weeks, the flower will be pressed. They will last indefinitely, as long as you handle them gently.

I'm including a link to the press I just bought for my 8-year old daughter, so you can see what it looks like: