How to Store Dried Flowers and Herbs

Once you get your flowers harvest and dried they will need to be stored. There will be different requirements for the dried flowers and plants depending on what you wish to do with them. Here are some tips to get you started.

Dried flowers need to be stored in a low light area to keep the colors from fading. It should also be cool and dry to keep them from molding. You do not want all your hard work to go to waste because they were not stored correctly. They can be stored in closets or attics or even kitchen shelves that are not being used. Make sure they are in a space where they will not have to be moved much. They are fragile and need to be handled with care.

Dry or moist potpourri should be shored in widemouthed glass jars or crocks with air tight lids. If you have some glass jars that are tinted or opaque they will work wonderfully. However, clear containers can also be used if they are stored in an area without much light.

Dried materials should be stored in glass airtight containers, also, if they still retain their scent. If they are not fragrant, they can be stored in shoe boxes, heavy cardboard, plastic boxes, or large baskets. They will still need to be in a container with a cover, though. They do best if stored in one layer, but you can put tissue paper between them to help keep them from getting crushed.

If you are storing stemmed flowers and leaves they can be left in bunches on the drying racks. Be sure to cover them with paper bags that are rubber banded at the top. This will keep off dust and protect them from fading.

Flower heads and leaves dried with silica gel can be stored in shoe boxes or plastic boxes with tight tops. Be sure to line the boxes with cotton batting or tissue paper. Handle the boxes very carefully to keep then from being crushed. If you can obtain silica packets, you can place them in the boxes to help keep the material dry.

Be sure to label everything so you do not have to guess what it is when you want to use it. Once they are all dry, they look very much alike. Include the name and date on the label.

Storing your dried flowers and plants correctly is as important as harvesting them properly. If you take the time to do it right, you will get better results with your craft projects when you use your dried materials. Hopefully, these tips will help you be successful when storing your dried flowers.