4 Ways to Preserve Flowers at Home

Bellisima Fiore | December 2023

Flowers have a beautiful way of marking life's most meaningful moments. A wedding bouquet, anniversary arrangement, birthday flowers, or even a few stems from someone special can hold memories long after the occasion has passed.

Although fresh flowers are naturally temporary, there are several ways to preserve their beauty at home.

At Bellisima Fiore, we love the idea of giving meaningful flowers a life beyond the vase. If you have an arrangement you aren't quite ready to part with, here are four methods you can use to preserve your blooms.

1. Air Drying

Air drying is one of the simplest and most traditional ways to preserve flowers.

This method works particularly well for flowers and greenery that maintain their structure as they lose moisture.

How to Air Dry Flowers

Begin by removing excess foliage from the stems. Gather the flowers into small bundles and secure them with string or a rubber band.

Hang the bundles upside down in a dry, dark, and well-ventilated space.

Keeping flowers away from direct sunlight can help reduce fading while they dry.

Depending on the flower variety and humidity of the environment, the drying process can take approximately two to three weeks, sometimes longer.

Once completely dry, the flowers can be displayed in a vase, incorporated into décor, or saved as a keepsake.

Flowers That Air Dry Well

Some varieties are naturally better suited for air drying, including:

Roses

Hydrangeas

Lavender

Baby's breath

Statice

Eucalyptus

Remember that dried flowers will naturally look different from fresh ones. Colors may become softer or darker, and petals may become more delicate.

That transformation is part of their charm.

2. Flower Pressing

Pressed flowers are a beautiful option when you want to preserve blooms in a flat format.

They can later be incorporated into framed artwork, stationery, bookmarks, scrapbooks, journals, or other keepsakes.

How to Press Flowers

Select flowers that are relatively fresh and free from excess moisture.

Place the blooms between sheets of absorbent paper and position them inside a heavy book. Add additional books or weight on top to create consistent pressure.

Leave the flowers undisturbed for approximately two to four weeks.

When they're completely dry, carefully remove them from the paper.

Pressed flowers are fragile, so handle them gently.

Flowers That Press Well

Flowers with naturally flatter shapes generally work best, including:

Pansies

Daisies

Violets

Cosmos

Ferns

Small wildflowers

Thicker flowers can sometimes be pressed as well, but they may need to be separated into individual petals or sections first.

3. Silica Gel Drying

If maintaining more of a flower's original shape is important to you, silica gel can be an excellent preservation method.

Silica gel works by drawing moisture from the flowers while allowing them to retain much of their three-dimensional form.

How to Preserve Flowers With Silica Gel

Choose an airtight container large enough to hold your flowers without crushing them.

Pour a layer of silica gel into the bottom of the container.

Place the flowers upright in the gel and carefully pour additional silica around and over the petals until the flowers are completely supported and covered.

Seal the container.

Drying time varies depending on the type and size of the flower, so check the instructions for the specific silica product you're using.

Once the flowers have dried, gently remove them and carefully brush away any remaining silica.

Flowers That Work Well With Silica Gel

This method can work especially well for:

Roses

Peonies

Dahlias

Zinnias

Carnations

Chrysanthemums

Because silica gel helps flowers maintain more dimension than traditional pressing, it can be especially useful when preserving blooms from a special arrangement.

4. Glycerin Preservation

Glycerin preservation works differently from traditional drying.

Instead of simply removing moisture, the plant material absorbs a glycerin-and-water solution. This can help preserved foliage remain softer and more flexible than traditionally dried greenery.

How to Preserve Greenery With Glycerin

Create a solution using glycerin and warm water.

Trim the stems and place them into the solution, allowing the plant material to gradually absorb it.

The process may take several days or weeks depending on the variety and size of the foliage.

As the glycerin replaces some of the natural moisture within the plant material, the foliage may change color.

Greenery That Works Well With Glycerin

Glycerin preservation is particularly useful for certain types of foliage, including:

Eucalyptus

Magnolia leaves

Ferns

Other sturdy greenery

Always follow the instructions provided with the glycerin product you're using, particularly when determining the appropriate ratio of glycerin to water.

Start With Flowers That Are Still Healthy

No preservation method can completely reverse flowers that have already deteriorated.

For the best results, begin preserving your flowers before they are fully wilted.

Remove damaged petals and leaves, make sure the flowers are free of excess moisture, and select the healthiest blooms from your arrangement.

The sooner you begin, the better chance you have of maintaining their shape and beauty.

A Beautiful Way to Hold Onto a Memory

Flowers are temporary, but the memories associated with them don't have to be.

A preserved bloom from your wedding bouquet can become framed artwork in your home. Flowers received after an important accomplishment can become part of a journal. A single stem from someone you love can become a keepsake you carry with you for years.

Preservation allows flowers to take on an entirely new purpose.

At Bellisima Fiore, we believe flowers tell stories from the moment they're selected and arranged to the memories they represent afterward.

Sometimes, preserving a flower isn't simply about saving the bloom.

It's about preserving a little piece of the moment that came with it.