How to Preserve Peony Flowers
- 1). Pick the peony flowers when they first open fully and are free of rainwater or dew. Cut off the stems, which will become brittle and will break after drying.
- 2). Cut a 3-inch length of wire with wire cutters. Push the wire end in the base of the peonies and bend it, twisting it to secure the wire length as a stem.
- 3). Place 2 inches of silica gel in the bottom of the plastic container. Insert the wired ends of the flowers in the gel, with the flowers facing up. Keep the flowers at least 1 inch apart from each other.
- 4). Place gel in the sieve and sift the gel slowly over the peony flowers, making sure the gel fills all crevices. Cover the blooms with no more than an inch of gel to avoid distorting the petals.
- 5). Place the lid on the plastic container and tape it shut with the duct tape. Leave the plastic container undisturbed for two weeks before removing the preserved peonies.