Almost every flower and leaf can be preserved in some way, and drying
flowers at home means that when the freshness and beauty of your garden
have faded the flowers and foliage will still be delicately preserved.
Pick flowers for drying on a dry day. If slightly wet or dewy they will
take longer to dehydrate, and the quicker they dry, the better the
color. The flowers should be as near perfect as possible. Cut them just
before they reach their peak. Gather leaves in late summer before they
begin to change color.
There are three basic methods of drying: air drying, desiccants and
glycerine. They all require very little basic equipment, but plenty of
space for drying and some patience.
Air Drying
Choose a well-ventilated, cool, dry, dark room - an attic, spare
bedroom or dry garage would all be suitable spots. Direct sunlight
causes the drying flowers to discolor and damp causes mildew.
Flowers can either be hung upside down, or dried upright or
flat.
Hanging flowers can be successfully dried in large quantities by this
method. Remove all the lower leaves and wipe away any moisture. Tie the
stems into bunches adjusting the flowers so that the heads touch as
little as possible.
Hang the bunches from rails or string suspended across the drying area.
Make sure that the bunches do not touch each other. Check regularly.
Air drying can take from three weeks to three months. The stems must be
completely dry before you take them down. They should feel crisp to the
touch. Flowers that have not been properly dried will disintegrate
rapidly.
Drying Upright - Hydrangeas and many of the seed heads and grasses are
most successfully dried upright. Pick the material for drying when it
is almost dry on the plant for best results. Put 1cm of water in a
container tall enough to support the stems. Place the stems in the
container and leave until the water has evaporated or the stems feel
totally dry. This method is suitable for: Achillea filipendulina,
Amaranthus caudatus, Gypsophila paniculata, hydrangea, lunaria, rose,
santolina.
Drying Flat - Many leaves, particularly deciduous ones, will dry well
laid flat in a box or on a clean, dry floor. Larger heads such as
artichokes, thistles, proteas or maize can be dried this way supported
by chicken wire.
