How to Dry Flowers and Herbs

There are several methods that are used to dry flowers. The method you use will depend on what you plan to do with the flowers once they are dry. Here are some tips to help you decide how to dry the flowers you have grown in your garden for craft projects.

One method that is very commonly used to dry flowers is hang drying. To do this you will need to harvest your plant with the longest stem possible. If you are drying flowers, strip all the leaves from the stems. Gather the plants into bunches of three to five stems per bunch. If the plants are small you can used more. However, the more you use in one bundle, the longer they will take to dry. Fasten each bunch with a rubber band at the end. It should be about one inch from the end. Hang them by the rubber band in a dark room, or cover them with a paper bag for drying. Be sure to leave enough space for them to get sufficient air. Adjust the rubber bands as they dry. This process will take several days to a week.

A quicker method for drying plants is to oven dry them. Place separate petals or flower heads on a cookie sheet so they are one layer deep. Place them in an oven that is about 100 degrees F and leave the door slightly open. Watch the plants carefully as they dry. It could take just a few minutes for them to dry. However, it may take up to several hours.

If you want to dry flowers or leaves on the stem, the method you want to use is water drying. Place the flowers in a container with a small amount of water. Place the container in a warm area out of the sunlight. The water will gradually evaporate and allow the flowers and plants to dry slowly. In this way, they will look more natural. Be sure to allow several days for drying.

If you are drying lots of loose petals and flower heads, the easiest method is to air dry them. You will need flat surfaces that will allow the air to circulate around the petals. The best to use for this are window screens, flat baskets, or muslin that had been hung. You can also use newspaper laid out flat on the floor if you are short on space. Next, just allow them to dry naturally. This could take several days or sometimes up to a week.

There are many craft projects for which dried flowers can be used. Using your own flowers is much cheaper than buying your own. And, you can be sure you will have the types of flowers and plants you desire. Hopefully, these instructions will help you dry your flowers for all of your projects.