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1. Pressing – Of all of the drying methods, this is probably the easiest and most popular. That is if you can remember what book you put the blossoms in. Best for single blooms. Just place the flower ion the pages of a book or between several sheets of newsprint. Weight the surface with other books. If you are worried that you might ruin a beloved tome, there are special plant presses available at most craft stores. This method is perfect for violets and pansies.
2. Air Drying - This is the best method for a large bouquet or a coursage. Bind the flowers together snugly with some twine. Strip all of the leaves off of the flowers. Leaves hold water and they will dramatically slow down the drying process.. In order to keep the colors as vivid as possible, hang the flowers upside down in a cool, dark place. The room needs to be well ventilated and the air should be able to circulate around the bouquet. This will prevent rot. This process can take as long as a month, so keep an eye on the bunch. Stems will shrink as they dry out, so you might have to retie them. Once they are completely dry, spray them with hairspray. They will still be fragile, but they should not break as easily.
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3. Oven Drying - Preheat your oven to the lowest possible setting. Place the flowers on the racks, or on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Keep the door of the oven open so moisture can escape. This process will take several hours, or best, let them dry overnight. Marigolds, zinnias, cornflowers, and chrysanthemums take well to this type of drying.
4. Dessicant Drying – This process can have the best of all results. But it can also be unpredictable. The most popular dessicant is silica, also available at most craft stores. The first thing you need to do is dry the product out in the oven before you use it. Then place it in a shallow container that has an air tight lid. Flowers with compact heads, like carnations, can be dried face up. Those flowers that are very delicately petaled should be dried face down. Always for the best results, follows the manufacturer’s directions closely.
5. Cleaning – Now of the bad news. Dried flowers can be very tricky to claen. For the best results, use a real feather duster and be very gentle. Blower driers with the heat turned off can get good results.
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