How to Preserve Flowers & Foliage
- 1). Cut the stems of flowers or leaves short. Stems contain lots of water and take up space, which increases drying time.
- 2). Mix together two parts of borax with one part of fine sand to form a desiccant mixture. Silica gel may be substituted for sand. Fill the bottom of the container with 1/2 inch of the mixture.
- 3). Place flowers and foliage into the container so that they do not overlap. Flowers with flat heads, such as daisies, should be placed face down. Other flowers should be placed in the mixture face up.
- 4). Add additional desiccant to completely cover the foliage and the flowers. Pour or sprinkle desiccant mixture slowly in order to preserve the shape of the flower heads.
- 5). Seal the container and place it in an area where it won't likely be knocked over. Most flowers should dry in about seven days, though some types take several weeks. After five to six days, check desiccant box to examine the flowers. When flowers and foliage feel dry to the touch it is safe to remove them.
- 6). Pour desiccant away from preserved plants. Brush any remaining mixture from the samples with a soft brush.
- 7). Build false stems from floral wire to display dry flowers. Attach the false stem with floral tape and wrap the original and false stem in tape to create a cohesive look.