I have some flowers from my boyfriend/bestfriends funeral. I would really like to keep them forever! Ive heard about drying flowers but dont know how to do it. Also to press them. Now if I figure out how to dry them Ive heard they kinda keep their shape. Im afraid they would get torn up that way....What I think I would really like to do is press them that way I can frame them. A friend told me that pressing might be hard to do since the stems are so big. The main flower that has to be done perfect is a sunflower. My friend said that flower has a real "meaty" thick center to it and might be real hard to press. There are stargazer lilys and some others I dont know.
So please give me an idea of what I can do. Im hoping to get complete instructions if you have that or maybe tell me what your own experience is. I dont know if I could take them somewhere to have this done.? Any information would be helpful...Thank You!
2007-10-12 06:47:42 · 83 answers · asked by zoelynn 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
You won't want to press those type flowers - you'd want to dry them so they keep their shape and more of their color.
I used Borax 20 Mule Team brand laundry soap to dry them in and it worked really well -you have to completely cover them in the borax and since they sound like big / thick flowers, then you would probably need a good size box and a few boxes of borax. And the flowers can't be in a bunch. Takes about a week.
here's a link to help you:
http://www.curbly.com/jcarracher/posts/898-Preserving-flowers-with-Borax
2007-10-12 07:01:04 · answer #1 · answered by Liberty Belle 5 · 18⤊ 2⤋
How To Preserve A Flower
2016-09-29 09:35:48 · answer #2 · answered by lujan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have gotten so many answers already, and I don't even know if you will even see my answer but here it is.
A friend of mine preserved some of her flowers by using an over the counter emollient called Glycerin. She mixed in the water (I don't remember the ratio of water to glycerin) and kept adding to it over several weeks, until the flowers were dried. Oh yeah, before she did that, she slid flower wire into each stem to keep them straight while they soaked in the mixture. I'm sure if a web search is done, you might find this recipe somewhere.
MY best way to preserve flowers is in my Mind's Eye!
PS. I also remember that she said the mixture acts almost like an embalming fluid. I only wish I knew the ratio for you.
2007-10-14 13:23:54 · answer #3 · answered by Mama Mia 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The way i preserve my bouquets of flowers is:
1. tie all the flower stems together and find a nice dry place to hang them upside down.
2. spary the flowers with regular hairspray to keep the flowers from falling apart.
3. after about a week, the flowers should be completely dry
it will take longer or shorter depending on the type of flower
hope you are able to find a good way to preserve your flowers. i think it's sweet that you want to keep those special flowers forever. they can be your little reminder of how wonderful your friend was.
2007-10-14 13:04:49 · answer #4 · answered by Tiff 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can dry and preserve your flowers by tying the stems together and hanging them upside down in a cool dry area for a couple of weeks.
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You can press your flowers by putting them between clean white paper and putting them between some heavy books. To ensure proper flatness, you can sit on the books for a few minutes once or twice during the pressing process. Change the paper everyday for the first few days or until the paper remains clean and white.
If you do not change the paper, the flowers may become molded because of the moisture trapped inside.
After they are pressed and/or dried - You can buy some 'preserve' at a craft store to spray on them so that they do not crack and break off.
After you have pressed your flowers, you will notice that the color is not as vibrant, usually this cannot be helped.
2007-10-13 03:33:47 · answer #5 · answered by ♥ Eco Friendly ♥ 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If it were me, I would buy some silica gel pellets available in the floral dept of most craft stores. Trim any extra stem that you will not need off and have a plastic bowl with lid. (Make sure this is a bowl you will never eat from again) Put a thin layer of silica gel down the put the flowers in face down and gently cover them over with the silica.Close the bowl tightly and allow to dry for about a week.
Do be careful when uncovering the flowers. After you remove them from silica then you can place them in a pretty shadow box or paperweight. If you want them in a flat frame the flowers may need to be cut in a cross-section first so they will be thin enough.
Good luck.
2007-10-14 15:28:53 · answer #6 · answered by only1 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ok I have pressed both a sunflower and a stargazer lilly... I got one from my grandmothers funeral and the other one from my grandfathers... so they are very special to me.
They are actually very easy to press...put them inside a phone book then put a couple of magazines or books over for weight and keep them there for a couple of weeks. This works great. The sunflower lifts super easy and then all you have to do is put it in the picture frame the stargazer though is kind of hard you have to have some patience putting that one in the frame.
I have each flower in a glass picture frame, I placed it diagonally then in one corner i put a picture of one pf my Grandparent(sunflower my grandmother and stargazer my grandfather, since i took each flower from their funeral) Whoever sees them think they are beautiful. They look really nice.
The only flower you'd like to hang down to dry are roses... those are the only ones that hold perfect shape that way.
2007-10-13 22:40:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
What is the best way to preserve flowers?
I have some flowers from my boyfriend/bestfriends funeral. I would really like to keep them forever! Ive heard about drying flowers but dont know how to do it. Also to press them. Now if I figure out how to dry them Ive heard they kinda keep their shape. Im afraid they would get torn up that...
2015-08-18 18:06:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK. To dry out the flowers, you want to hang them in a cool place, upside down for a couple of days. Then they stay that way, but won't smell. They might look like the plastic kind a bit, but not nearly as much. If you want to press them, get a presser and go along! Make sure there is plenty of weight on the presser, or else they won't work well. Good luck!
2007-10-13 17:02:36 · answer #9 · answered by Lindsalei 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
One way to dry flowers is to hang them upside down in a basement or garage (if it isn't too cold). You tie a string to the bottom of the stems and they will dry out. There is another way and it's going to a craft store and asking for the powder which you would pour on the flowers and wait until they are dried out. I have used the microwave on herbs but I don't think I'd try it on flowers. Your best bet is to explain your situation to a florist and ask if they could explain or direct you to someone who really knows how to do it. I'm sorry for your loss and I hope this has been some help.
2007-10-13 10:19:39 · answer #10 · answered by 33492 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Get a large square plastic container with an air tight lid .
Pour 2 to 3 inches of Borax in the container , evenly .
Cut flowers stems to 1 to 2 inches .
Insert stem into Borax,
Tighten and secure lid on container . Leave on for 1 week .
Flowers will be preserved naturally and your ready or your handcrafts !
2007-10-15 00:36:22 · answer #11 · answered by vpsinbad50 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋