All About Preserved and Dried Flowers

Fresh cut flowers are beautiful and they tend to smell amazing. However, it may not be a practical choice as they last about a week or so on average. This prompts many to ask what are the alternatives to fresh flower blooms? Preserved and dried flowers are a great substitute for fresh flowers! Not only do they last longer and are cost-efficient but they do retain the beauty of the blossom in a rustic and trendy manner. If you want to know all about preserved and dried flowers, then do read on to find out more. 

What are Preserved Flowers?

Preserved flowers are flowers that have been are cut at the peak of their bloom and gone through a precise high-tech rehydration process to maintain their original shape and suppleness. Colours can then be reintroduced hence they have vibrant shades that can last for several months or even years.

What are Dried Flowers?

Dried flowers are flowers that have been dehydrated by different methods like air-drying, silica drying, freeze-drying, microwaving, pressing etc.

The best-known method to dry flowers is hanging them upside down out of the sun with good air circulation until it dries. When the flowers are completely dried, they can be given additional colouring and setting treatments to restore some of their previous appearances, but this is not necessarily required. Many flowers may be dried organically, and while they will lose a lot of their original colour, you will still have a lovely product with a rustic feel. 

How long do preserved and dried flowers last?

Preserved flowers with the correct care can more than 1 year, even up to 3 years. Dried flowers can last up to an estimated one year.

How to care store preserved and dried flowers?

1. Avoid storing your flowers under direct sunlight

2. Keep them dry

Preserved or dried flowers are a terrific way to create a variety of unique floral arrangements. Because of their durability, they have a high economic value. Aside from the apparent benefit of not having to water your flowers, they have the added benefit of being available all year round making them easy to utilise any time of the year.

Drying flowers is a great option for those who want some decor in their homes but do not want the hassle to maintain fresh blooms. You can also save a special bouquet as a memory and style them similarly to fresh flowers by putting them in vases or arranging a centrepiece. In this post we will show you how to air dry flowers. Florist tip: To get high quality dried flowers, dry flowers when they are still fresh and not when they withering! Otherwise your dried blooms may fall apart or have brown spots when fully dried.

Some of our favourite flowers for air drying: Astilbe, Baby’s Breath, Blue Thistle, Caspia, Delphiniums, Hydrangeas, Ornamental Grasses, Roses, Spray Roses, Statice.

Steps to air dry flowers:

1. Remove Leaves and browning petals

2. Gather stems in small bunches and trim to desired length

3. Secure each bundle with string

4. Hang each bunch upside down in a cool and dry place

5. Let the flowers completely dry (usually takes 2-3 weeks)

6. Keep dry and away from direct sunlight