How to Make your Favourite Flowers Last Forever

Sometimes flowers are so special you want them to last forever. Here are two easy methods you can use to make that happen.

DRYING FLOWERS: This is a classic method of flower preservation. There are no special materials you need, just start when your flowers are partially open.

Here’s what you need to do:

1 – If your flowers have been in water, take a soft cloth and dry the stems. Moisture is the enemy of flower preservation so it’s best to get rid of what you can before you begin. I also give the ends of the stems a fresh trim.

2 – Take your flowers, choose a few stems and tie them together. Ventilation is key here so it’s better to tie just a few stems together and have several smaller bunches than one big bunch. I also like to vary the length the stems to give as much room for air to circulate as possible.

3 – Now it’s time to hang your flowers upside down to dry. The important thing in this step is to find a dark, dry area. The colour of the flowers will fade, but darkness will help minimize the amount that happens.

4 – Leave the bunches hanging for 2 – 3 weeks and then check on them. If you detect no moisture, untie them and your beautifully preserved flowers are ready to use.

What you can do with dried flowers:

Find a vase or container that matches the look of the flowers and pop them in for a striking arrangement of vintage hued blooms.

Pull the petals off the stems, mix them in a clear glass bowl with dried herbs and spices, add a couple of drops of essential oil and you’ll have a fragrant potpourri.

Form them into a wreath and hang on your door for a year-round decoration.

Here are the pros and cons of using the drying method:

Pros: This method is easy to do with no special supplies needed; you’re able to preserve the stems as well as the flower blossoms so you can use the dried flowers in a vase arrangement; this technique has a high rate of success.

Cons: If you don’t dry the flowers completely they’ll grow mould; some petals will shed; the colour will fade so if you’re looking for the same vibrant colours as when your flowers were fresh, this isn’t the method to use.

PRESSING FLOWERS: The most traditional way to press flowers is between the pages of a book.

Here’s what you need to do:

1 - Collect your materials: Flowers, absorbent paper, and a heavy book. (Choose any thin, porous paper – paper towels and tissue paper both work well.)

2 - Lay one sheet of paper inside the pages of a heavy book. Place your flowers face down on the paper leaving lots of space around each one and then cover with the second piece of paper. (When covering the flowers with the second piece of paper be very careful. You want to make sure all the petals of the flowers stay flat and if you move too quickly you may disturb your layout.)

3 - Carefully close your book and place it between other heavy books, leaving it undisturbed for at least two weeks. When you check your flowers if they aren’t completely dry, close the book again and leave for another week. If they are dry, carefully remove them. Your pressed flowers are now ready for you to use. (If the flowers are completely dry they will have a papery feeling to them.)

What you can do with pressed flowers:

Pressed flowers are perfect for a whole host of DIY projects. You can use them to make greeting cards, bookmarks, wrapping paper, jewellery, wall hangings, coasters - there’s really no limit to what you can do to personalize your home décor or create unique gifts for family and friends.

Here are the pros and cons of using the pressing method:

Pros: This method produces results quickly; with pressed flowers the colour stays more true than with dried flowers; this is a very simple method and is a great activity for children.

Cons: While this method is great for smaller flowers and petals, it doesn’t work well for larger flowers; pressed flowers cannot be displayed in a vase.

If you have some favourite flowers you want to last forever, give these methods a try. I’d love to hear how they work for you and if you have any tips you can add.