When we started flower farming 25 years ago, dried flowers were all the rage. We quickly started to learn which ones we liked best, and how to dry them to preserve their integrity. Fast forward to recent years, and dried flowers are back and bigger than ever. We have to say we love this for a variety of reasons one of which is that dried flowers allow us to be less seasonal, and give an opportunity to create year round. And with more and more people choosing to support local (Yay! Finally!), this allows our community to have beautiful local flowers year round despite our harsh climate.
In the past few years some of our most asked questions are about dried flowers. You want to know when you purchase a bouquet which flowers will dry and how to do it. Here's the thing; not all flowers dry well. I recently heard a flower farmer say that "all flowers dry" and while hypothetically speaking this is true... I think it's important to make the distinction that not all flowers dry well, and often the finished product will not be what you hoped for if you simply let the water drain from your vase and you "dry your flowers". Some flowers are also easier to dry than others, so you may need to alter your method for some flowers. Another thing to remember when drying flowers is that you'll get your best results when you start the drying process at the optimal time for that flower. This is different for every variety, and sometimes means that if you wait till your fresh bouquet is past it's prime, your dried bouquet may also be passed its prime. My general rule is that if your intention is to dry the flower do it at it's prime. Here on the farm, we grow flowers with the specific intent to dry them. They are picked at their prime, and dried immediately to preserve their integrity. This doesn't guarantee perfect results and we have certainly had some dried flower failures over the years, but if you follow a few general rules you are likely to have success.
Okay so which flowers are the easiest to dry, and how do we dry them? If I were to create a dried flower starter pack here's what it would be; Statice, Strawflowers, Gomphrena, Ammobium (Winged everlasting). What all 4 of these have in common is that when you touch the flowers, they all have a dried somewhat prickly feel to them. The other thing they have in common is that if dried correctly they will all look nearly identical dried as they do when they are fresh. When statice is fresh, it has tiny either white or yellow flowers that accompany the main colour of flowers. The only difference when dried is that these flowers disappear and you're left with the main flower colour. Strawflowers and Ammobium continue to open as they are dried so depending on what stage of flower you prefer you may want to dry these before they are fully open. Gomphrena dry as you see them fresh. Their colour fades slightly but the shape and texture of the flower stays the same.
Ok so maybe you've got some other flowers you'd like to try drying, here is a list of our other favourites; Celosia, Larkspur, Sunflowers (variety makes a huge difference here as to which dry well), Russian Statice, Scabiosa Pods, Dusty Miller, Artemisia, Safflower, Craspedia, Ranunculus, Queen Annes Lace (the chocolate and original dry best. Green mist does not dry particularly well) Peonies, Stocks, Amaranth, Poppy pods, Hydrangeas, Goat's beard, Acrolinium, Astilbe, Globe thistle, flax (in pod stage not flower stage) and allllll the grasses (bunny tail, prairie pampas, millet, oats, wheat). Some not so local flowers that also dry beautifully are Roses (Yes we can grow roses here but they aren't typically the drying kind), Proteas, Lavender (Lavender doesn't grow very well in our climate, but if you're lucky you may find some local lavender), cotton balls, eucalyptus (We can grow eucalyptus here but often it isn't the right variety or maturity to dry as well as other imports), and baby's breath (again we can grow it here but a different variety). I'm sure I'm missing some, but you get the picture, theres a TON of great flowers for drying out there.
Following the same method for most of these flowers will get you results;
-Strip leaves from the stem (at least the bottom portion)
-Bundle in small bunches to avoid mould
-Hang upside down (to keep the stems straight)
-Do this in a dry and dark environment (humidity ruins dried flowers and light and sunlight cause fading)
-For flowers of a more delicate nature, picking before they are full bloom, and or spraying them with an adhesive can help the petals stay on the flower.
Another other way to dry flowers that don't do well with the classic method (Zinnias for example) is to microwave them using silica sand or cat litter (yup you read that right)! For more information on this drying method search the internet. This isn't a method we do often so we aren't the experts on it.
Questions always come up with the purchasing of already dried bouquets... how long will they last, will they stay like this, and the more common than you'd think; "So I don't have to put this bouquet in water?". And here is my most common answer "It depends how you take care of them" and "PLEASE NEVER PUT DRIED FLOWERS IN WATER." Let's address that first part; Just like anything, the way you take care of your flowers will directly impact their longevity. Keeping them in a dry environment out of direct sunlight will likely mean your bouquet will look the same months and months down the road as the day you bought it (or put it together). If you keep them in a humid bathroom on the window sill in direct sun, the lifespan of your flowers may be much shorter. We generally say that a well taken care of bouquet will last about a year, and then it's probably best to replace it. If you have some dust accumulation or an occasional spider web we recommend using your hair dryer on a low setting to refresh your bouquet. Ok, now for that second part. I've noticed a lot of people mixing dried flowers with fresh lately for a unique look. While this may be a cool concept, here is why I don't recommend it; Putting dried flowers into water will compromise the integrity of the stems and will very likely increase mould and bacteria growth. This not only shortens the life of your fresh flowers, but makes it less possible to save the dried stems for a later date. I realize this may be an unpopular opinion so please if you love that look go for it! I just want your decision about mixing dried blooms with fresh to be informed.
Hope this post helps inform you when choosing flowers to grow or purchase with the intent of drying. Now is the fun part. Go dry some flowers, and make some art!
M
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