Flowers may not be available all year round, but when you preserve them, as in dried flowers, you have at your disposal a wide array of magnificent cost-effective means of decorating. When you preserve flowers you do not only recycle natural materials and not only exercise your creative juices. With dried flowers you can make the beauty of flowers available, regardless of season.

How do you preserve flowers? Here are some things you should know when it comes to preparing dried flowers:

• The first step in preparing dried flowers is to choose the appropriate materials. Not only should the flowers have aesthetic value, the blossoms should also be picked at the right time. Flowers should not be picked in the afternoon because they’d be too dry at that time. The best time would be early morning-just after the dew is dried.

• Once the flower is dried, most of its original color fades away. Thus, coloring is done either to fortify the original color of the flower or to alter the original color to suite the required composition. Coloration of dried flowers can be done by painting with artificial color, or by color absorption or by using citric acid. On the other hand, decoloration is done so that the original colors of the flower lose color until it becomes white. Thus, when the artificial color is applied, the new color is absorbed faster by the flower. Sodium hypochlorite or sodium chlorite is used to decolorize.

• Fungi can cause flowers to rot and wilt. Air drying thus entails treating the flower with fungicide. Flowers which are treated and colored are then tied with a rubber band and hung upside down to dry.

• Compared to air drying, oven drying is a better but expensive way of preparing dried flowers. The flower is hung upside down at 40 deg C then at 45 deg C until it is perfectly dry. Clear aerosol is then sprayed to make it more attractive.

• For roses, orchids and carnations, dry them in the microwave with a silica gel to hold the flowers in place for three minutes using medium-high heat.

• Pressed flowers will look lovelier as the originals. Before pressing the flower, place it in between two sheets of paper or blotting paper with the iron set to low heat and pressing down steadily for a few minutes.

Remember that the beauty of a dried flower is anchored on how it was prepared. The aforementioned steps may be easy but, when in doubt, it’s best to seek the experts.

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Go on. Indulge yourself in dried flowers and see beauty last for a lifetime.

Dried flowers can be used as a typical and unique style of decoration. One can get the dried flowers from a florist or can dry the flowers oneself. There are many flowers which dry quickly and easily. Few of them are violets, roses, .daisies, zenias etc. The basic rule for drying is that the moisture in the flower should be removed without rotting it. There are various methods of drying which are as follows:

Hanging: in this method one needs to hang flowers in a well ventilated, dark spot, for about a week, by tying the flowers in a bundle and hanging them upside down.

Sand Drying: in this method one needs to fill the flower with sand by placing it in a box of sand, stem upside down for a week. The most important thing to be remembered is that the sand should not have any moisture. The advantage of this method is you can retain the cup shape of the flower.

Air tight containers: this method is very useful for bulky headed flowers. Just place the flowers in the container, close it and keep it for a week to ten days.

A desiccant: a substance such as calcium oxide or silica gel, which has a high affinity for water and is used as a drying agent can also be used to dry flowers.

A wreath fashioned from dried flowers is an attractive and durable decoration for a front door or mantel. It’s a simple project too, requiring only a frame, dried flowers, and a hot glue gun. To begin making a wreath, attach a picture frame hanger to the reverse of your stretcher frames (preferably use, two 8-inch and two 9-inch frames for the purpose). Paint the frames, if you want to. Prepare the flowers by removing their stems. Starting from one corner and working your way around, lay down a strip of glue. Place the flowers on the hot glue and push down carefully. Continue placing flowers along the top side and finish by gluing flowers along the edge.

Apart from this there are some general rules which should be used for Dried Flower decoration which are as follows:

If flowers feel soft like a sponge, do not use them for drying. This indicates that they are old or have been frozen. Flowers used for drying should be firm. Make a stem for the dried flowers with a wire and secure flowers with floral tape. Once all the flowers have been mounted on stems, start making arrangements. Check garage sales, etc. for unique vases and bowls in which to display the arrangements. Find inspiration for arrangements by touring flower gardens or by looking through gardening magazines.

Experiment, create and never be afraid. The end results can give your home the warmth of your gardens.