Monday, February 27, 2012

How to Get Pressed or Dried Flowers

The aesthetic appeal of flowers has long been acknowledged by people. One sad thing about flowers is that they do not last long once cut from the plant. You do not have to agonize over your cut flowers dying early if you dry them.

Dried blooms may be used for several things. You may want to dry most of the flowers you get from other people if you want to keep them longer. The season following winter is usually a perfect time for drying blooms.

You can air dry your flowers to preserve them. It is wiser to take off the leaves before tying the stems together, since removing them later may be troublesome. The blooms should be suspended from a line and let to dry, with their heads facing down.

One crucial point here is that you should not clump flower bundles too much, or they might take longer to dry. It is recommended to hang blooms upside-down because this means you can retain the straightness of each stem. If you do not want a wilted bloom at the end of the process, make sure you hang your dried flowers upside-down.

You must make certain that there is no direct light from the sun reaching the flowers. The buds need to be removed from photo contact as soon as possible as prolonged exposure to the sun will cause their colors to fade. You may have to contend with rot if you permit damp to get into the space where you dry blooms.

Wait at least two weeks before testing whether the air-dried blooms are ready yet or not. Drying duration varies depending on the water content of the plants as well as general conditions of temperature, humidity and air circulation. Most people just check on the flowers after the specified couple of weeks, though experts insist on taking a look at them every day or so to check against rot.

Silica gel may come in useful if you are dealing with flowers that have an unusually high water content. You may even dry flowers by pressing them between sheets of paper and pressing down on them. Most people prefer to do it the fast way, so desiccants are popular options: for those who do not mind waiting, pressing may be a viable alternative.

People use dried flowers for a great many arts and crafts projects. Preserved blooms can be very useful for many decorative purposes. Even those who have limited time and creativity can simply place dried bunches in a decorative vase or basket, which can be used to adorn any table or wall.

Of course, as is true of all ornaments, these blooms may eventually collect dust. Dust your preserved blooms regularly to keep them looking great. Placing mothballs nearby keeps away rodents and other pests that might be interested in wiping out your lovely arrangement as a snack.

Those who dry flowers often do it so that they have blooms in their house at all times. You can get a lot of great decorative materials from flower drying. Drying flowers is a unique and creative way to hold on to keepsakes that would otherwise have wilted away.


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