Flower Arrangement

Lesson 14 :Preservation Of Flowers

Drying

Hanging method
Many flowers dry well by this simple process. Pick flowers just before they reach their prime . overly mature flowers do not dry well. Strip off all leaves and tie the flowers in small bunches. Suspend the flowers upside down in a warm, dry area, without light (figure). Darkness preserves the colour, An attic or basement that is warm and dry is an ideal place.

Drying time depends on the type of flowers being preserved and the atmosphere of the place where they are drying. Generally, most flowers dry in one to three weeks using the hanging method. Leave bunches hanging until they are needed for arrangements. The following flowers and foliages dry well using the hanging method. Astible, celosia, delphinium dock, goldenrod, grasses, gypsophilia, larkspur, liatris, milkweed, millet, pussy willows, rabit tobacco, roses scotch broom, statice , straw flower and yarrow.

Desiccant –Drying
Desiccant –drying consists of buying flowers in a substance that will extract moisture from the flowers can be dried without loss of colour or shape when the petals are supported by one of a number of drying agents. The function of the support medium is to allow even drying throughout the flower and to keep petals from curling. Therefore, all spaces between the petals must be completely filled.

To dry flowers by this method, first remove the stems from the flowers about one –half inch below the calyx. Place one or two inches of the drying agent in the bottom of a container. Place the flowers face up on the bed of desiccant by gently supporting the petals and working the substance into and between the folds of the flowers.
Seal the container to prevent the drying agent from absorbing moisture from the atmosphere. Strong cardboard boxes make excellent containers because holes can be punched into the bottom of the box to remove the drying agent without damaging the flowers.

The length of time required for a flower to dry varies. Normally two to four weeks are required for complete drying. Experimentation is suggested for specific flowers using different desiccants.
When flowers have dried completely, gently remove them from the container and brush them with a small paint brush to remove particles and dust from the petals.
Flowers dried by this method are extremely fragile. Spray them with a dried flower preservative to protect and strengthen them.

Attach floral wires to the flowers for stems or the original stems can be dried by hanging and then reattached to the flower with hot glue. If wires are attached for stems, use floral tape to secure the flower to the wire and to give the stem a more natural look. The following is a list of flowers which can be dried by desiccant-drying.

Anemone	Dersty miller
Aster	Gazamia
Butterfly weed	Hollyhock
Calendula	Larkspur
Camellia	Marigold
Carnation	Pansy
Cosmos	Pompous
Dahlia	Rose
Daisy	-
Daylily	Tithonia
Zinnia	Verbena

Sand and Borax
A mixing sand and borax may be used as a drying agent. Use fine, washed beach sand for this purpose. If may be purchased from building supply stores the sand should be shifted well before use. If the sand is damp, it can be even dried in a shallow pan at 250°F for thirty minutes. Measure out two parts sand and one part borax and mix well. Borax can be purchased in the laundry section of any grocery store. Drying time is one to two weeks for this material.

Cornmeal and Borax
White cornmeal and laundry grade borax also make an excellent drying agent. This mixture is light and works well with delicate flowers. Mix ten parts of white cornmeal with three parts of borax. Sift to mix thoroughly. The borax is added to protect the petals from mold and weevils during the drying process. This method takes approximately three to seven days.

Kitty Litter
Kitty litter made of ground clay may be used as a drying agent. The ground clay has a great deal of absorbing quality and it can be used over and over. Sift or screen the Kitty Litter and discard larger pieces. Select a brand of kitty litter that contains small particles .Some brands are very coarse and unsuitable for drying flowers.

Silica Gel
Silica gel is an industrial compound that may be purchased for drying flowers. It is more expensive than other drying agents, but it can be reused almost indefinitely. Silica gel is probably the best drying agent for preserving flowers because it dries quickly and the flowers retain more of their natural colour. It may be purchased at hobby stores or discount stores which carry crafts.
The silica gel sold for drying flowers has blue crystals, known by the brand name. Tell-talce, added as a colour indicator. When the crystals turn pink, it indicates that the silica gel has absorbed the maximum amount of moisture. It may be sifted to remove flower debris and dried in an oven at 250°F for thirty minutes. The tell tale crystals will return to their blue colour when completely dried.

Microwave drying
The microwave oven enables to dry flowers in a matter of minutes. The quality is superior. The colours are brighter and the flowers are not as dry and perishable as conventionally dried flowers. Use the following steps as a guide for drying flowers of your own.

Step-1 Select materials
Brightly coloured flowers, partially open silicage or uncoloured kitty litter 18 gauge wire, Floral tape.

Step-2. Trim stems half to three quarter inch in length. Spread silica gel one to two inches deep in small glass or paper bowls. Do not use metal in the microwave. Prepare one container for each flower (figure). This makes removal of the flowers easier.

Step-3. Arrange one flower blossom face up in each bowl of silica gel. Sprinkle additional silica gel between petals until the flowers are completely covered. Use a tooth pick or small brush to separate petals if needed (figure).

Step-4 Place one or two flowers in a microwave oven at a time. Place a cup of water in the corner of the oven to provide moisture in the oven. This will prevent the flower from completely drying up. Microwave for one to four minutes according to the flowers drying guide (figure). These are approximate times. Some experimentation will be required to determine exact times. After heating, let the flowers remain in the medium for 1 to 24 hours.

Step-5 Remove flowers carefully from the bowl. Shake gently to remove silica gel. Use a small paint brush to remove any remaining gel(figure). Spray with a preservative spray and attach a 16 or 18 gauge wire to the stem with floral tape.

Figure: Flower Drying Guide for a microwave oven:

Flower	No of flowers	Power level	Total time (minutes)
Carnation	2	High	3 to 3½
Daisy	2	High	1 to 2
Pompons	2	High	3 to 4
Rose	1	High	2½ to 3
Camellia	1	High	3 to 4
Marigold (large)	1	High	3 to 4

Glycerin
Glycerin is a color less liquid made from fats and oils which can be used to preserve foliage. The advantage of using glycerin is that it preserves the foliage in a pliable, more natural state. It is frequently used to preserve such greening as eucalyptus, magnolia and maple leaves. Glycerin can also be used to preserve some flowers such as baby’s breath. Glycerin may be purchased from any drug store.

Make the solution by mixing one part glycerin and two parts water. Pour this into a container to a depth of four to five inches. The stems of fresh foliage should be given a fresh slanting cut at the base. Place the stems of the foliages in the glycerin solution for four days to two weeks (figure). Replenish the solution as needed during the preserving process the foliage will darken to an olive or bronze color as the leaves absorb the solution. To prevent this darkening of the leaves, add absorption dyes to the water. The dye will be absorbed into the stem and deposited in the foliage. When the process is complete, hang the foliages upside down to dry.

Individual leaves are best preserved by submerging the leaves in the glycerin solution. Place weights on the leaves to keep them below the surface. Ivy leaves and stems may be preserved by this method. Leave the ivy submerged for four days and it will turn a lovely shade of green. As soon as the foliage is removed from the solution rinse the glycerin off with cool water.

Bleaching and Drying:
Materials to be bleached must first be dried. Place the plant material in a solution of one cup of bleach to two gallons of water. Use plastic, glass or enamel containers. Do not use metal containers. Weight material down so it will be submerged at all times. Leave five to six days or longer if necessary check periodically. Remove when bleaching has occurred and rinse thoroughly. Leave the material in water both for a day or two. Hang outside to dry and whiten (figure).
To dye bleached materials, dip for about five minutes in a boiling Rit solution according to the directions on the package. Rinse the material after dying. Hang to dry out of the sun.
Materials suitable for bleaching include many of those which can be air-dried.A-spidisdra and bird –of- paradise well but must first be peeled Okra and Corn shucks are other items often bleached.