Harvest the flowers to dry
When we talk about making bouquets whether they are dry or not, it is first necessary to pick flowers. Depending on the season, you will have more or less choice. You can pick up flowers from your garden or even wild flowers during a walk in the fields, on the roadsides, etc. The best time to pick them is the day after a hot day, rather in the middle of the day to allow the morning dew time to completely evaporate. By proceeding in this way, the drying will be faster. This has the advantage of avoiding alteration of the flower. Favor flowers that are not too blooming. To cut them, use a sharp pruning shears. It is also possible to dry a bouquet that you have been offered, if the flowers are fresh and not too “soft”.
Which flowers to choose?
Not all flowers dry equally well. We therefore suggest that you discover some varieties of flowers that lend themselves well to this operation:
- the allium offers flowers which constitute a large pompom. They can be white, pink or purple. You can grow this plant easily in your garden, After flowering, between May and August, let the flowers dry on the spot. When harvesting, you can spray a little hairspray to prevent the small flowers of the pompom from falling;
- the flowers of the craspedia are large yellow pompoms very popular, because they fit perfectly in the bouquets of dried flowers;
- thistles, with their very graphic appearance, will also find their place in your dry bouquet;
- lavender is also very easy to dry and will also give you the benefit of its sweet scent;
- everlasting flowers can be white, yellow, orange, red or pink. They can be harvested between July and October and it will be easy to dry them;
- physalis have flowers which resemble an oriental lantern of a beautiful beige or orange color which does not deteriorate when drying;
- the pope’s currency is also frequently used. Indeed, the fruiting makes it possible to take advantage of what looks like flat pearly colored capsules through which small seeds are visible;
- statice is one of the essentials when it comes to dried flowers. Its colors do not fade as it dries and you can enjoy its beautiful shades of blue and purple for many months to come. They can also be found in yellow or apricot colors;
- the hydrangea offers superb pompoms which lend themselves well to drying. They can be white, pink or even blue.
You can also easily dry wheat, the graphic appearance of which will add a very nice touch to your dry bouquet. And why not use a willow or hazel branch or a cotton swab, for example, to add texture?
Dry the flowers to make a dry bouquet
To dry the flowers, you must first prepare them. Here are the different steps to follow:
- first, you need to remove thorns on roses, for example, and as many leaves as possible. Indeed, the latter have difficulty drying and therefore risk not keeping well;
- also remove any small debris like twigs etc. and select only the flowers that are not damaged. But be careful, to preserve them as well as possible, do not leave them in a pile, they could deteriorate or rot;
- once the preparation of the flowers is finished, you need to tie your flowers together by placing your tie at the base of their stems. For this, you can use the rope that you will tie on each small bouquet;
- all you have to do is hang the resulting bouquet upside down. If you have the possibility, in summer, place it outside in the shade. In all cases, choose a well ventilated location to allow good drying. As we have seen, the faster the drying takes place, the less the flowers are damaged. They will thus retain more vivid colors. Always in order to preserve the colors, you can dry the flowers away from light. For hydrangea flowers, it is even recommended to place them in the dark.
Depending on the variety of flowers, the drying time will not be the same. Indeed, the evaporation of water depends on how it is distributed in the flower. It takes a few days up to 3 weeks for complete drying. If in doubt, feel free to let your bouquet dry a little longer to be sure. Once your flowers are perfectly dry, you can, before detaching them, spray transparent lacquer to fix the small parts of the flower. It is preferable to stand about 30 cm from the bouquet so as not to end up with a result that would seem too stuck.
Make your dry bouquet
Once your flowers have dried, it’s time to make your dry bouquet. You can compose a simple bouquet of suitable size for your vase. Then choose your flowers to create a harmonious whole and corresponding to the style you want. It is also possible to create compositions. You can then opt for the manufacture of a crown. You will then have to think about the support. You can also use your dried flowers to decorate your interior, you can then hang them in the form of bouquets, or as an adornment for your hair for an event. For the maintenance of your bouquet, if the dust has accumulated, you can put it upside down and use your hair dryer set to the softest and coldest breath.