Post by ladyjay on Dec 23, 2007 9:06:44 GMT -5
Flower & Herb Drying
Air Drying:
Air-drying can be very successful with herbs, everlastings and ornamental grasses. Choose perfect plants with long stems, removing the
lower leaves. Put the flowers in small bunches, fastening them together with a rubber band; then open each bunch into a fan shape.
Hang the flowers head down from nails in a dry, dark place for one to three weeks until they are completely dry. The colors will usually
be muted. Display your flowers in the house or store them as above. This method works with roses as well. Cut the stems off to the
very bottom of the rose head, and carefully insert a 6-8" length of wire. Hang upside down by bending the end of the wire over a
hanger and place in a dark dry closet where it won't be disturbed. One hanger can accomodate several flowers, just space them apart a bit.
* TIP *
Try storing dried roses heads in a cardboard egg carton. They stay upright and don't get squashed. The natural holes in the carton
helps with ventilation and you could sprinkle a small amount of silica gel in the bottom of the carton to help keep humidity out.
Air Drying:
Air-drying can be very successful with herbs, everlastings and ornamental grasses. Choose perfect plants with long stems, removing the
lower leaves. Put the flowers in small bunches, fastening them together with a rubber band; then open each bunch into a fan shape.
Hang the flowers head down from nails in a dry, dark place for one to three weeks until they are completely dry. The colors will usually
be muted. Display your flowers in the house or store them as above. This method works with roses as well. Cut the stems off to the
very bottom of the rose head, and carefully insert a 6-8" length of wire. Hang upside down by bending the end of the wire over a
hanger and place in a dark dry closet where it won't be disturbed. One hanger can accomodate several flowers, just space them apart a bit.
* TIP *
Try storing dried roses heads in a cardboard egg carton. They stay upright and don't get squashed. The natural holes in the carton
helps with ventilation and you could sprinkle a small amount of silica gel in the bottom of the carton to help keep humidity out.