Sometimes roses are so beautiful that you may wish they would last forever. Luckily, with a bit of time and knowhow, your roses can be preserved. Although air drying is a simple, tried and true method, many experts believe that drying roses in silica gel is the best method of desiccation for roses and other flowers that have thick petals. Silica gel is a drying agent that will extract the moisture from the blooms while leaving their shapes and colors intact.
Drying Roses with Silica Gel
Step 1
Gather roses that are similar in size. If you are picking the roses from your own garden, harvest them in mid-morning on a dry day. Use only
Step 2
Remove the leaves from the stem and cut the stem down to 2 or 3 inches.
Step 3
Spread an inch of silica gel in the bottom of an airtight plastic container.
Step 4
Arrange the roses on top of the silica gel.
Step 5
Add silica gel around and on top of the roses until the blooms are completely covered with the gel. Add the gel a little at a time, jiggling the container after each addition to settle the gel around the roses before adding more.
Step 6
Check the roses after three to five days. Remove the lid and use a soft paintbrush to remove enough silica gel to enable you to
Step 7
Remove the roses from the silica gel when the blooms are completely dry, and use the soft paintbrush to gently brush excess silica gel from the blooms. Don't over-dry the roses, as the petals will become brittle and break easily.
Step 8
Air-Drying Roses
Step 1
Gather a small bunch of about three to five roses with their foliage removed.
Step 2
Hang the roses upside down from a hook in a dark, dry, well-ventilated room. Leave the roses for two to three weeks.
Step 3
Remove the dry roses form the hook. Spray the roses lightly with aerosol hair spray to strengthen their petals.
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