How do you preserve I flower?

Question

My son got a carnation as a gift today. He wants to save it. How would I preserve/dry this flower?

Answer 1

Carnations do not dry well , they loose color real bad.

You can go to Michael's or another art shop and ask for the stuff they put in new shoes to keep them dry. I have a gallon of the stuff (can't remember what it is called) and when I dry flowers I put some in the bottom of a shoe box lay in the flower before it gets too droopy and pour the rest all over it. It drys nicely after a week or so. Or you can press the carnation in a book like they use to do in the old days.. It will be flat but dry and kept. Roses do well with this drying agent.

Once the carnation is dry glue it to a nice little plaque and spray the whole thing with clear lacquer or liquid plastic.. It will make a nice little plaque for memories for your little boy.

Answer 2

Purchase some silica gel or silica sand from your local craft store and dip the flower into the silica. The silica preserves the color and shape of the flower. However, if you like you could just hang it and let it dry naturally, but you won't get the same effect.

Answer 3

use hair spray and let it dry upside down for a couple of hours