Tips For Creating Dried Roses

by beconrad

If roses and other flowers have one disadvantage, it is the fact that their beauty is only fleeting.  The wonder of flowers is that they are able to grow, show off their beauty, die and then spring back to life once again.  With the right care and consideration, however, it is possible to preserve your favorite blooms for all time.

Roses are among the most wonderful flowers to preserve, and among the most challenging as well.  Rose blooms are certainly magnificent, but they can be fragile as well.  It is important to take your time, and to learn the proper drying techniques in order to keep your favorite roses with you always.

There are two different ways to preserve the beauty of roses that would otherwise be lost.  Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to learn about both techniques and choose the one that works best for you.

The first method of preparing and drying roses is air drying.  This is certainly the simplest method, and it requires very little in the form of materials and supplies.  The results of air drying, however, are not always as good as the results that can be achieved with the sand drying method.

In order to air dry your favorite rose blossoms, first choose a suitable blossom, looking for particularly flawless roses.  Roses that are damaged in any way are generally not good candidates for drying.

As you prepare the rose, first remove any leaves that are on the branches and thread the head of the rose onto a strong wire.  The bottom of the rose head can be tied with a string or wire.  When hanging more than one rose, be sure that each rose has sufficient room to fan out.  The roses can be hung, head down, on a coat hanger, which should in turn be hung in a cool, dry location for two to three weeks. 

The other method for drying roses is the sand drying method, and while it is more difficult and time consuming, sand drying also can provide better results than simple air drying. 

Again, it is important to choose those roses that are in flawless condition.  Avoid roses with broken or imperfect petals, and also avoid roses with dew on them.  The roses and the stems must be perfectly dry before you get started.

If the stems or blossoms need to be reinforced, carefully use either florist wire or white glue to provide the support they need.  If you use florist wire, you will need to cut off the majority of the stem, leaving only about one inch and removing the rest.

Begin the drying process by carefully pushing approximately three inches of wire up through the stem and through the head of the rose.  After the wire is in place, bend the end of the wire into a hook over each rose, then pull it down.  This will help to keep the rose head secured to its stem.

If you choose to use white glue instead, the glue should be diluted with a small amount of water.  After the glue has been diluted, take a toothpick and dab on a thin coat of glue to the base of each of the petals.

The glue should next be worked into the base of the flower stem so that the petal can be attached to the base.  Wait until the glue has dried completely before moving on to the next step.

After the glue has completely dried or the wire has been used to secure the rose head, it is time to slowly and carefully cover the roses with sand, using a deep box.  The box should be deep enough so that the flowers can stand upright.

Each flower should be sat upright in the box, and sand slowly poured around the base of the flower, up around the sides, and finally up and over the petals of the flower.  The sand should be added slowly, taking care not to damage the delicate flowers as you go.  The sand should be applied evenly, so that the natural shape of the roses can be preserved.

The box containing the roses should be placed in a warm, dry and brightly lit location in order to ensure that the roses will keep their vibrant colors.

The roses should be left to dry in their open box for between one and three weeks.  If muted pastel colors are desired, they can be dried in a more humid area, but if vibrant colors are the desired result the area should be warm and dry.

After the drying period is complete, the sand should be slowly removed by carefully tilting the box to allow the sand to fall out.  The flowers should then be removed from the box one at a time.