How to dry out flowers and preserve them

Whether you want to decorate with dried flowers, frame them or make your home smell amazing with potpourri, our drying flower methods will give them a new life!

How to air dry flowers in 4 easy steps:

To dry your flowers you’ll need: 

• Flowers

• Scissors

• String or rubber bands

• A hanger

• Unscented hairspray

Now follow these easy steps to dry your flowers and keep them for years:

1. Choose the flowers you want to dry. Flowers that have only just bloomed are the best ones to use for drying. You’ll then need to remove any excess foliage under the flower head and trim the stems.

2. Split your flowers into small bunches of 6-7 flowers. If you’re drying larger flowers like roses or hydrangeas then they’ll need to be on their own. Tie each bunch with an elastic band or some string and hang them upside down from the coat hanger.

3. To help the flowers keep their colour, hang them in a dry, dark room away from any direct sunlight. The attic or a cupboard under the stairs would be ideal!

4. Leave the flowers for 2-3 weeks until they are completely dry. When you take them down, spray them with a little burst of hairspray. This will not only protect them but it’ll also give them a nice shine.

How to dry flowers in a microwave in 5 easy steps

Drying flowers in a microwave is by far the fastest method, taking just minutes instead of weeks. To dry flowers in the microwave you’ll need:

• Flowers

• Microwave 

• Microwave safe container

• Silica gel

•  A small fine brush

1. Remove any unwanted foliage from the flower and cut the stems so it fits in the container. Fill the base of the container with 1-2 inches of the silica gel. If you’re drying a larger flower then you’ll probably need a bit more. Place the flower blossom up and pour more gel gently over the flower. If you’re adding multiple flowers make sure they’re the same type. Otherwise, they’ll dry at different rates and you could risk burning them.

2. The microwave time and temperature will vary depending on the flower. We’d suggest starting with 1-2 minute intervals. Keep checking the flowers to see if they feel dry, if not carry on microwaving.

3. When the flowers are fully dried, you’ll need to cover half of the container and let it cool for 24 hours.

4. Be super careful when removing the flowers from the container, you don’t want to accidentally bend or damage the petals. Once the flowers are free, brush the silica gel off with a fine brush and then display them however you want!

How to dry flowers using silica gel in 5 easy steps

Discover another easy way to preserve your favourite flowers: using silica gel. This method is a great alternative to air drying or using a microwave, ensuring your blooms retain their beauty for longer.

To dry flowers using silica gel, you’ll need:

• Flowers

• Silica gel

• Airtight container

• Soft brush (for brushing off excess silica gel)

• Optional: mesh or wire for supporting flower stems

1. Prepare the flowers by removing excess foliage and trimming stems.

2. Pour a layer of silica gel into the container and place the flowers on top, ensuring they don't touch each other. 

3. Cover the flowers with more silica gel and seal the container tightly.

4. Leave for 3-7 days to dry.

5. Remove the flowers and brush off excess silica gel.

What are the best flowers to dry?

Sadly, not all flowers are right for drying. Some just work better than others! And one of the best ways to learn which flowers are best for drying is through trial and error. But we have also created a handy little list of the best flowers to dry.

• Amaranth

• Artemisia

• Astilbe

• Baby's breath

• Celosia

• Coneflower

• Delphinium

• Herbs

• Hydrangea

• Larkspurs

• Lavender

• Pansies

• Roses

• Poppies

• Strawflower

• Yarrow

How long do dried flowers last?

While it does depend on the flower, generally dried flowers last between 1-3 years! As long as they are cared for properly, handled with care and kept out of direct sunlight, wind and humid conditions, you'll be able to enjoy your beautiful blooms for years.

Our top care tips for dried flowers

If you want to keep your dried flowers looking lovely for a long time, just follow our top tips below:

1. Find the right home - Ideally, you want to keep the flower off window sills as direct sunlight will make them brittle and their colour fade. Also, keep them far away from stoves, fireplaces or heaters. Basically, they need to be in a fairly cold, dry room.

2. Gently dust them - Using something super gentle, like a feather duster, paintbrush or hair dryer (on cool) so you don't damage them, give them a little dust off regularly to keep them looking their best.

3. Don't get them wet - Water and humidity can make the dried flowers turn brown, limp or even mouldy which is the last thing you want for them! So avoid keeping them in the bathroom.

What to do with dried flowers?

Here are ten nice ways to use dried flowers:

1. Decorate your home: Use dried flowers to add a touch of nature to your home decor. Place them in vases, create wreaths, or make floral arrangements.

2. Create artwork: Press dried flowers between the pages of a heavy book to flatten them, then use them to create artwork, such as greeting cards, bookmarks, or framed botanical prints.

3. Make potpourri: Mix dried flowers with essential oils and spices to create fragrant potpourri. Display it in bowls around your home or in sachets in closets and drawers.

4. Craft jewellery: Use dried flowers to make unique jewellery pieces, such as resin pendants, earrings, or bracelets.

5. Enhance gift wrapping: Add a special touch to gift wrapping by including dried flowers in the wrapping or tying them onto the package with ribbon.

6. Create a flower crown: Use dried flowers to make a beautiful flower crown for weddings, festivals, or photo shoots.

7. Make natural dyes: Use dried flowers to create natural dyes for fabric or paper crafts. Boil the flowers in water to extract the dye, then use it to colour your materials.

8. Scented sachets: Fill small pouches with dried flowers and herbs to create scented sachets for drawers, closets, or cars.

9. Herbal bath mix: Use dried flowers to create a soothing herbal bath mix. Simply place the flowers in a muslin bag and let them steep in your bathwater.

10. Natural confetti: Use dried flower petals as natural confetti for weddings, parties, or other celebrations.

Learn how to dry roses or how to press flowers with our Lead Florist Caroline's top flower pressing tips!

Discover more amazing floral DIYs in our flower journal to take your flowers to the next level.