summertime ’s final stage does n’t necessarily mean that you have to bid farewell to your favorite garden flowers . Preserve those summer bouquets rather and use them for a variety of decorative aim , such as wreaths , potpourri and flowered arranging .
Preparing Flowers to Preserve
Regardless of the bear on method you pick out , the process for selecting and preparing flowers is the same . First , select flowers that are in effective shape and show no sign of decay or disease . Cut flowers in the belated afternoon or even , as opposed to the morning , when they may be damp . Cut more than you think you ’ll call for to make up for damage . If you plan to attend peak to dry , break up them just before they open up . The flowers will continue to spread out as they hang .
dry flower arrangements can seem stiff and awkward . wait for flowers that have naturally curve or bending stem for a more raw feeling . Some may need wires for support or formation .
Flower Preserving Methods
Air Drying Flowers
The unproblematic method acting of preserving sweet bloom is probably air drying , a method acting that has been used since compound times to dry prime , as well as herbs . Cut the flower , leave stems at least 8 inch long . Arrange the flowers in bundles of one twelve stem or less and envelop the fore gently with a piping cleaner . Make a hook on one end of the pipe cleanser and hang the flowers from a nail or baulk in a warm , dark , dry fix , such as a shed or attic .
let the flowers to hang until they are thoroughly ironic , which usually takes two to three weeks , depending on environmental condition . Flowers take longer to dry out in humidity , less time to dry in arid conditions . The blossom may fade or shrink slightly during the drying process , which is normal .
Use melody - dried efflorescence in wreaths and arrangement or brush case-by-case petals off into a bag to make potpourri . Some peak well - suit to air drying include :
CC flickr photo by Don Hankins
Preserving Flowers with Borax and Sand
Borax and Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin human activity as drying agent when pour out over flowers , wicking moisture from them within a few mean solar day . This method requires a light tactual sensation to nullify crushing the flowers , but when done properly , the flowers retain much of their color and texture .
To dry flowers , mix 1/3 cup sift , teetotal George Sand with 2/3 cup borax , which is a laundry linear usable at foodstuff stores . Lay the flowers in a tray and pour the moxie and borax salmagundi around the flowers at the perimeter of the tray . Slowly shake the sand mixture so it sift over the flowers , which is less damaging to them than just deck the guts straight on top of them .
Check the flower every 2 to 3 day , and remove them as soon as they are dry . If they are left in the sand for an prolonged geological period , they may become brickle and fragile . Some multitude favour to apply white cornmeal instead of George Sand because it has a fine , loose texture . Flowers that dry out well with this technique include :
Want to learn more about how to dry and preserve summer flowers?
See these helpful websites : dry out Flowersby University of Missouri ExtensionDrying and Preserving Flowers and Plant Materialby Alabama Cooperative ExtensionDrying Flowersby Clemson University Extension
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