As you admire flower arrangements at your wedding or anniversary party, you might wish you could keep them forever. Fortunately, there are several ways to preserve flower bouquets so that you can display and continue to admire them in your home. Here are a handful of tips on how to dry and preserve your favorite fresh flowers.

4 Flower Bouquet Preservation Tips

1. Air Dry

Secure the stems of your flower bouquet with rubber bands, and hang them upside-down so that the blossoms will dry without drooping or wilting. Wrap string around the stems, and hang them from a utility rack, coat hanger, or kitchen rafters. Choose a well-ventilated area to speed up the drying time, and keep them away from windows so that the petals don’t fade or bleach. 

2. Silica Gel 

Silica gel is a form of silicon dioxide that absorbs moisture. Bury your fresh flower bouquet in a container full of silica gel to dry the flowers while keeping the bouquet intact. Remove them after about a week, and put the preserved bouquet in a vase or clear display box.

3. Flower Press

You might want to save individual flowers from a bouquet by pressing them. Line the center of a large, heavy book with parchment paper, and arrange single flowers face-down. Close the book, and stack a few other heavy books on top of it. After a week, you’ll have dried, pressed flowers to paste in your wedding scrapbook, add to stationery, or frame as wall art. 

4. Microwave Them

Speed up the preservation process by drying your bouquet in the microwave. This method works best for preserving individual flowers, since most microwaves have limited space. Take the flowers you want to dry, and put them on ceramic plates. Place coffee filters beneath them to absorb moisture, and microwave them in three increments of 20 seconds each. 

When you need gorgeous fresh flower bouquets for special occasions, get in touch with Laurel Grove Florist & Green Houses. They provide flower delivery services, garden plants, and gift baskets to clients throughout Port Jervis, NY. Call (845) 856-2713 to place an order for flower arrangements, and visit the website to browse through fresh flowers for all occasions.