How to Preserve Flowers: 13 Effective DIY Ways to Preserve Flowers

Flowers can bring joy, beauty, and warmth to any space but don’t last forever. If you have a special bouquet or flowers from a memorable event, you might want to keep them longer. Luckily, there are several ways to preserve flowers so you can hold onto their beauty. Whether it’s your wedding flowers, a gift from a loved one, or just your favorite blooms, this guide will show you different methods to keep your flowers looking amazing. Let’s explore some easy and fun ways to preserve your flowers!

How to Preserve Dried Flowers

Drying flowers is one of the simplest ways to keep them looking beautiful for a long time. It helps maintain their shape and color while ensuring they don’t rot or fade.

How to Do It:

1. Choose flowers that are fresh and haven’t started wilting.
2. Remove any extra leaves from the stems.
3. Bundle the flowers together using a rubber band or string.
4. Hang them upside down in a dark, dry place like a closet or cupboard.
5. Leave them for about 2-3 weeks until they’re completely dry.

Why It Works: Drying removes all the moisture, helping the flowers keep their original shape and color. This method is great for roses, lavender, or baby’s breath.

When to Use It: If you want to keep your flowers in a vase or make a dried flower arrangement, this method is perfect!

How to Preserve Flowers in Resin

Preserving flowers in resin is a fun way to turn them into beautiful ornaments, jewelry, or decorations. It’s a bit more involved but creates stunning results.

How to Do It:

1. Mix the resin according to the instructions (make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area).
2. Pour a small amount of resin into a mold.
3. Place your flower on top of the resin.
4. Pour more resin over the flower until it’s covered.
5. Let it dry for 24-48 hours.

Why It Works: Resin creates a clear, hard coating that keeps the flowers looking fresh forever.

When to Use It: This method is perfect for making personalized gifts, jewelry, or ornaments.

How to Preserve Wedding Flowers

Your wedding flowers are special, and you might want to keep them as a beautiful memory. One of the best ways is to use silica gel or resin, as these methods keep the flowers looking vibrant and lifelike. You can also create a shadow box with your dried bouquet or frame individual flowers to hang on your wall.

How to Preserve Flowers in a Frame

Framing your flowers is a lovely way to turn them into artwork. You can use pressed flowers or dried flowers for this.

How to Do It:

1. Press your flowers using the pressing method mentioned earlier.
2. Arrange the flowers on a piece of paper or fabric.
3. Place them inside a picture frame, and your preserved flowers will look like a beautiful piece of art!

How To Preserve Flowers In A Book

Using a book to press flowers is an easy and classic method.

How to Do It:

1. Place your flowers between sheets of paper.
2. Insert them in the pages of a thick book.
3. Leave them for 1-2 weeks until they’re completely dry.

Why It Works: The weight of the book presses out the moisture, making the flowers flat and preserved.

How to Preserve Cut Flowers

If you want to keep cut flowers looking fresh for as long as possible, try these tips:

• Change the water every few days.
• Cut the stems at an angle every time you change the water.
• Add a teaspoon of sugar or a few drops of bleach to the water to keep bacteria away.

How to Preserve Flowers in a Vase

To extend the life of flowers in a vase:

1. Use clean water and a clean vase.
2. Trim the stems regularly.
3. Remove any leaves that will be submerged in water.
4. Keep the vase out of direct sunlight.

Some Other Ideas To Preserve Flowers

Pressing – Suitable for Crafting and Art Projects

Pressing flowers is a great method if you want to use them for art projects, like decorating cards or making bookmarks. It’s easy and doesn’t require any special tools.

How to Do It:

1. Choose flat flowers or remove petals from bigger flowers.
2. Place the flowers between two sheets of paper, like parchment or blotting paper.
3. Insert the paper with the flowers inside a heavy book.
4. Place more heavy books on top to add weight.
5. Leave them for 1-2 weeks until the flowers are completely flat and dry.

Why It Works: Pressing squeezes out the moisture from the flowers, making them flat and easy to use for crafts.

When to Use It: This method is perfect for crafting, scrapbooking, or adding a touch of nature to your projects.

Silica Gel – Best For 3D Effect

Silica gel helps keep flowers looking just like they did when they were fresh. It’s great for preserving flowers in their original shape.

How to Do It:

1. Get some silica gel from a craft store.
2. Pour a layer of silica gel into a container.
3. Place the flowers gently on top of the gel.
4. Cover the flowers completely with more silica gel.
5. Leave the container sealed for 1-2 weeks.

Why It Works: Silica gel absorbs the moisture from the flowers, keeping them in a beautiful 3D shape.

When to Use It: This method is great if you want your flowers to look as realistic as possible, making them ideal for display or special keepsakes.

Microwave Pressing – A Quick Solution

If you’re in a hurry, microwave pressing is a super fast way to preserve flowers.

How to Do It:

1. Place your flowers between two sheets of paper.
2. Insert the paper with the flowers into a microwave-safe dish.
3. Microwave on low heat for 30 seconds.
4. Check the flowers and repeat until they’re dry and flat.

Why It Works: The microwave removes moisture quickly, allowing you to preserve flowers in just a few minutes.

When to Use It: This is perfect if you want to preserve flowers for a quick craft or project.

Freeze Dryers and Food Dehydrators – For Long-Lasting Results

Using a freeze dryer or food dehydrator is a great option for serious flower preservation.

How to Do It with a Freeze Dryer:

1. Place the flowers in the freeze dryer.
2. Let the machine run for a few days until the flowers are completely dry.

How to Do It with a Food Dehydrator:

1. Lay the flowers on the trays.
2. Set the temperature to low (around 90-100°F).
3. Leave them for a few hours until dry.

Why It Works: These machines remove moisture gently, keeping the flowers in perfect condition.

When to Use It: Ideal for preserving large quantities of flowers or when you want professional-looking results.

Glycerin Preservation

Glycerin preservation is an excellent way to keep your flowers soft, flexible, and fresh-looking for years. This method replaces the water in the flowers with glycerin, preventing them from drying out and making them last longer. It’s especially useful for preserving larger flowers and greenery.

Steps:

• Mix two parts water with one part glycerin in a container, stirring well.
• Trim the flower stems at a 45-degree angle.
• Place the trimmed flowers in the glycerin solution.
• Let the flowers sit in the mixture for about 2 to 3 weeks or until they absorb the glycerin.
• Check for softness and a slight color change to confirm the process is complete.
• Remove the flowers and display them, avoiding direct sunlight and moisture.

Wax Dipping Preservation

Wax dipping is a fun and creative way to preserve flowers, giving them a unique shine and protection. This method seals in moisture, allowing your flowers to maintain their shape and color for several months. It’s great for preserving flowers you want to display as decorations or gifts, and the process is simple and easy to do at home.

Steps:

• Melt paraffin wax or candle wax in a pot on low heat until fully liquefied.
• Hold the flower by the stem and carefully dip it into the melted wax.
• Ensure the entire flower is covered in the wax.
• Shake off any excess wax gently.
• Hang the flower upside down and let it dry completely.
• Store the wax-dipped flowers in a cool, dry place.