How to Dry Roses?

Because a flower isn’t always just a flower—often, it’s associated with memories you don’t want to forget. Therefore, how to preserve roses is a critical subject. This post is for you if you’re unsure about what to do with your Valentine’s Day flowers after the celebration or want to recall blooms given to you on a particular date. There are five top methods for drying roses in this blog post, so they last a lifetime.

Since the time people have been growing roses, they have been dried. Most flower arrangements were created with dried flowers in Victorian times since residences were heated using open fires, which drastically reduced flowers life. Fresh flowers gained the focus after more effective systems for heating were built, but dried flowers still have many applications throughout the house. As a result, this guide will help you keep the roses and other flowers dried to ensure their long life.

 

The most common drying processes are:

You can dry the flowers in three different methods at home: 

You can dry your flowers in the microwave, in the air, or with a desiccant. There is also a process to freeze-dry it. However, this cannot be done at home because a regular freezer will not be enough. Because freeze-drying necessitates special freezers and will take a few weeks, it is not cost-effective if you cannot start a business of flower drying.

 

How to get your flowers ready to dry:

Flowers already dried are delicate, and the petals of fully opened blossoms might fall off after drying. You’ll require roses that haven’t started to rot, and their leaves haven’t fallen off to get the finest results.

Avoid exposing roses to sunlight throughout the drying process to help them preserve their colour.

If you’re picking roses from your patio rather than a florist, ensure you pick them early in the morning when the petals are dry. You don’t want any rotting or discolouration while the drying process is on, so choose only healthy roses. 

When storing roses with stems, all leaves must be removed because they do not dry well. The stems should then be clipped to the required length, which should not be less than 6 inches.

 

Air-dry them:

The most frequent method is air drying, which requires nothing but flowers. It’s also the most straightforward.

So, when this technique should be used? For rosebuds that are newly opened and retain their shape, air drying is the ideal option. Because you don’t want gravity to work against you when you are air-drying flowers, hang them style like a laundry with the flowers facing towards the ground. Make sure there is no water trapped between the petals before hanging the flowers. Next, make sure you are drying your flowers in a dark, warm, and dry location with sufficient airflow for the best results. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for them to dry. 

Remove the blooms from the ribbon/string once they have dried, and spritz those using a hairspray (colourless) to protect them.

 

A recommended way for drying roses is to air dry them in a vase:

If you’re drying miniature or spray roses, place them in a vase and let them air dry. Just remember to empty the vase of water if you don’t want your roses to rotting. Water evaporates quickly in hot conditions; therefore, you will not notice much difference. Suppose you leave the flowers in a vase with water and go for a vacation or a holiday for a long time. Suppose the temperature outdoors is roughly 30 degrees at the time. When you return, you might be surprised to find that the roses had dried flawlessly.

 

Tip: Spray hairspray to the rose as a finishing touch:

A less popular method of preserving the rose is to spray it with hairspray to preserve it in mint condition. It works fine when used in conjunction with air drying. Simply use a can of regular hairspray encircling the rose, saturating the leaves, stems, and petals with liquid. While hung upside down, the hairspray keeps the petals in place and stops them from slipping off.

 

Using a Microwave to Dry Roses: 

Because it must fit on the turntable, this method is only suitable for blooms or flower heads with a short stem. Keep your roses on grease-proof paper and heat on the lowest setting in the microwave. You must check on the roses every forty-five to sixty seconds to ensure that they do not overcook.

Desiccant is sometimes recommended for microwave drying since it stops petals from deforming.

 

Desiccant Drying – Silica Gel Preservation of Roses:

Use silica gel if you want the roses to look more natural. This substance, which can be purchased in craft stores or on Amazon, is best used with robust flowers. However, for completely open roses, this method works well. 

Keep the flowers in a big, airtight container and immerse them in silica gel. When you are putting the roses in the gel, be sure to cover them so that every flower part is hidden gently. Now, tightly close the container. Gently uncover vivid, preserved flowers after a few days to a week.

If you don’t want to wait, pop your flower-filled container in the microwave. But, first, make sure the container you’re using can be microwaved.

If you want to keep a bouquet alive, you’ll need a substantial amount of silica gel. A small bunch will weigh between 2 and 3 kilograms.

 

How can you make your dried roses better?

You might try steaming your roses if they didn’t turn out as intended and you are looking to enhance their appearance. They will be given a fresh lease on life as a result of this treatment. However, you must exercise caution because it is easy to destroy dried roses.

To begin, place your rose directly over the steam from the kettle for a very short time, like some seconds only, or until you see some reactions on the outer petals. Second, gently adjust the petals of the rose after removing it from the steam. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

 

Conclusion:

Rose drying is a soothing and lovely technique that preserves the memories of your special event or just enables you to enjoy your roses for longer. It also adds a charming and valuable touch to your environment.  

You can either build a bouquet made of dried flowers to keep on your table/desk or simply let the rose hang from your wall with a bit of ribbon or string. It’ll look stunning and be a treasured keepsake for a lifetime. So why not give this a try with the next bouquet of roses you get as a gift or purchase yourself?