How to Make Dried Flowers: 5 Easy Methods to Preserve Fresh Blooms

Fresh flowers are beautiful, but they don’t last forever. For anyone who wants to keep the charm of flowers longer, dried flowers are the perfect solution. With the right method, dried flowers can keep their shape and colors for 2–3 years, making them a popular choice for home décor, weddings, and crafts.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through five easy methods for making dried flowers and share some tips on choosing and preparing your blooms.

1. Air-Drying (Hanging Method)

This is the most traditional and natural way.

• Choose a warm, dry, and well-ventilated room.
• Gather your flowers into small bunches and tie them tightly with a rubber band or string (flowers shrink when drying).
• Hang them upside down in a dark, airy spot away from direct sunlight to preserve the colors.
• After 2–3 weeks, the petals should feel papery and brittle—your dried flowers are ready.

👉 Pro tip: Don’t let the blooms touch the wall, or they may flatten and lose shape.

2. Vase Drying (Natural Drying in Water)

Another simple method is to let flowers dry naturally in a vase:

• Place your flowers in a tall vase with only a little bit of water at the bottom.
• Allow the water to evaporate gradually, and the flowers will dry standing upright.
• Best for softer-stemmed flowers like hydrangeas and baby’s breath.

This technique creates a more natural, relaxed look since the flowers keep their posture.

3. Silica Gel or Desiccant Method

If you want dried flowers that keep their shape and vibrant colors, silica gel works best.

• Pour about 2 inches of silica gel (flower-drying crystals) into an airtight container.
• Place the flowers face-up, then carefully cover the petals with more crystals, filling all gaps.
• Seal the container and leave for 2–3 days.
• Once dry, gently brush off the crystals from the petals.

💡 Silica gel can be reused many times. If you don’t have it, a homemade mix of borax and cornmeal can also work.

4. Pressing Flowers

Pressed flowers are great for bookmarks, framed art, or greeting cards.

• Place flowers between sheets of absorbent paper (like newspaper).
• Add another sheet on top, then put a heavy object (books, boards, or a flower press) to apply pressure.
• Wait 1–3 weeks, and you’ll have perfectly flat, preserved blooms.

This method works best for small, flat flowers such as pansies or daisies.

5. Microwave Drying

For those who want fast results, try using a microwave:

• Place flower heads in a microwave-safe bowl and cover them with sand or silica gel.
• Heat on high for 2–3 minutes (time varies depending on microwave power and flower size).
• Let the flowers cool, then carefully remove and brush away the sand.

⚠️ Be careful—microwave drying requires practice, but it’s the quickest method.

Choosing the Right Flowers

Not all flowers dry equally well. For best results:

• Good choices: Roses, carnations, baby’s breath, hydrangeas, statice, and eucalyptus.
• Avoid: Flowers with high water content, such as lilies, lotus, or lisianthus, which don’t dry nicely.

For longer-lasting beauty, go for deep-colored blooms. Dark red roses or purple hydrangeas dry better than light pastel shades, which may turn yellowish.

Tip: If you love pale tones, white carnations and baby’s breath can dry beautifully too.

Trimming and Preparation

Before drying, prepare your flowers properly:

• Remove extra leaves from the stems to improve air circulation.
• Take off outer petals that are discolored or fading.
• For leafy plants like eucalyptus, trim off extra branches so the leaves dry faster.

Final Thoughts

Making dried flowers is a rewarding DIY project that allows you to enjoy nature’s beauty year-round. Whether you want to decorate your home, create handmade gifts, or design wedding arrangements, dried flowers are a sustainable and stylish choice.

✨ Explore more dried flower inspiration and DIY floral tutorials at FloraLover.com.