How to dry flowers
What you need to dry flowers
- A large plastic container with a lid
- Silica gel crystals
Cover the bottom of your container with a layer of gel crystals then lay your foliage on top. Press them in slightly and then pour more crystals over the top. Add another layer of foliage before covering with crystals. For larger blooms, try and get some crystals in amongst the petals so they’ll dry more evenly. Don’t make more than two layers as the weight of the silica might crush the flowers and distort their shape. Leave the foliage in the crystals for 1-2 weeks to dry.
Do not reuse tupperware for food after use with silica gel.
Pretty dry flower posies
What you need
- Selection of foliage such as grasses, seed pods and flowers with long stems
- Twine or string
- Thin rubber or latex gloves
- Vase
1. Once dried, carefully remove the foliage from the crystals. Gently shake each flower over the container to remove all the crystals. The crystals are re-usable so sieve out any loose leaves and petals and follow the packet instruction to dry them out again.
3. Pick a mix of around a dozen flowers and play around with the positioning of them to create a pretty arrangement. Once you’re happy, tie the stems together with twine. Trim the stems and then place them into your display vase. Position them individually as small posies, or in groups for a larger bouquet.
Dried flower rustic garland
What you need
- Selection of dried flowers with 2cm long stems
- Jute twine
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
1. Take three equal lengths of twine and tie them together at one end. Ours measured 150cm each, but you can make them as long or as short as you like. Braid the three strands together and then tie them off at the end – you may find it easier to tie the end to a door handle before you begin braiding.
2. Take one of your flowers and carefully weave the stem through the braid. We choose three types of medium-sized flowers and occasionally paired them with some baby’s breath to create variety.
3. Use hot glue on the stem and on the back of the flower head where they meet the twine to secure them in place. Hold the flower in position briefly while the glue cools and hardens, and then repeat steps 2 and 3, spacing out the flowers at regular intervals.
Modern dry flower wreath
What you need
- A variety of dried foliage including grasses, seed pods and flowers with long stems
- Jute twine
- 30cm metal floral hoop wreath
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
1. Wrap your twine around the middle of the hoop until about you make a band of around 5cm. This can be a little tricky as it may slide out of place so try to hold the twine in position as you wind it around.
2. When you have achieved the desired width with the wrapped twine, cut the twine and use hot glue to secure the end to the back of the hoop. Apply more glue to the back of the hoop where the wrapped twine meets it to secure everything in place.
3. Lay your foliage out on the front of your hoop until you’re happy with the positioning, trimming the stems where necessary. Place the foliage to one side in the order that it’ll appear on the wreath and then weave the first stem through the twine, going in front of some of the twine and behind others. Repeat this with the remaining flowers alternating which twine goes in front or behind the stem. Tie a loop of twine to the top centre for hanging and secure in place with hot glue.
Projects by Heather Nugent
Main photo: Dave Caudery
Styling: Beth Charlton Lucas
