How to Dry Out Flowers at Home

Drying flowers is one of the simplest ways to turn a short-lived bloom into a craft material. Dried flowers can go into cards, journals, frames, wreaths, and keepsakes. There is no single best method, though. The right choice depends on the flower, how much color and shape you want to keep, and how quickly you want results.

Quick answer: which method should you use?

If you are not sure, air dry sturdy flowers, press flat ones, and use a desiccant for thick or delicate blooms that lose their shape otherwise.

Pick and prepare your flowers

Results depend a lot on the starting material.

• Timing: Many sources suggest choosing flowers that are just before fully open, since blooms can continue to open a little as they dry and fully open flowers tend to drop petals.
• Dryness: Pick or use flowers after any dew or rain has dried. Surface moisture raises the chance of mold.
• Condition: Choose blooms that look healthy and fresh. Browning or wilted flowers usually dry poorly.
• Prep: Strip leaves from the stems, since leaves hold moisture and can trap damp air in a bunch.

Flowers with sturdy petals and less moisture, such as lavender, statice, baby’s breath, and many roses, are common beginner choices. Very thick or watery flowers can be harder.

Air drying

Air drying is the simplest and cheapest method and suits flowers that hold their shape well.

1. Remove most of the leaves and gather small bunches. Smaller bunches dry more evenly than large ones.
2. Tie the stems with twine or a rubber band. Stems shrink as they dry, so check the tie after a day or two and tighten it if the bunch slips.
3. Hang the bunch upside down in a dry, dark, well-ventilated place such as a closet or spare room. Darkness helps limit fading, and airflow helps prevent mold.
4. Wait. Many guides suggest roughly one to three weeks, depending on the flower size, thickness, and humidity.

The flowers are ready when the petals feel crisp and papery. Handle them gently, since they are fragile.

Can you dry lilies upside down?

You can try, but lilies are not a typical choice for hang drying. They are large, moist, and tend to lose shape. Some florists suggest a light spray of hairspray before hanging flowers that do not air dry well, while others find a desiccant gives a better result for lilies. If you try air drying them, expect some shrinkage and color change. Lilies are also toxic to cats, so keep them, including fallen pollen and petals, out of reach of pets.

How to dry heather

Heather is usually considered easy. Bunch small sprigs, hang them upside down in a dry, airy spot, and leave them until they feel dry. Because the stems are slender and the flowers small, it generally dries more quickly than large blooms.

Pressing

Pressing works best for flat or thin flowers, such as pansies, violas, small daisies, and ferns, and for individual petals or leaves from larger flowers. Thick blooms such as large roses and carnations often press poorly unless you split them apart.

1. Lay flowers between sheets of absorbent, unlaminated paper such as blotting paper, plain printer paper, or parchment. For paper basics, see the framing article for notes on what paper to use.
2. Arrange in a single layer with space between pieces.
3. Place inside a heavy book or a flower press and add weight.
4. Leave for around one to three weeks. If the paper feels damp, replace it carefully to reduce mold risk.

Avoid pulling the paper off while the flowers are still damp, since they can tear. Pressed flowers are delicate. Lift them with tweezers. Small pressed blooms are a lovely addition to handmade note cards and to bullet journal pages.

Silica gel and other desiccants

Desiccants absorb moisture while supporting the petals, so flowers often keep more shape and color than with air drying. Roses, peonies, zinnias, pansies, and dahlia heads are often dried this way.

1. Put a layer of craft silica gel in the bottom of an airtight container.
2. Trim most of the stem and place the flower head on the gel.
3. Gently spoon more gel around and between the petals until the flower is covered, taking care not to crush it.
4. Seal the container and leave it. Times vary by flower and product, and guides range from a few days to a week or more. Follow the instructions on your silica gel.
5. Remove the flower carefully and brush off crystals with a soft paintbrush.

Safety: Wear a dust mask and gloves if the product is dusty, and avoid breathing in silica gel dust. Keep silica gel away from children and pets, and do not reuse food containers for it. Silica gel packets are generally labeled “do not eat”. If someone swallows a large amount or you are worried, contact a poison control center or doctor. Silica gel can often be dried out and reused according to the manufacturer’s directions.

How to dry flowers without silica gel

If you do not have silica gel, several options exist:

• Air drying or pressing, described above, need nothing special.
• Homemade desiccant mixes: Craft sources mention sand, cornstarch, borax, and perlite. Some are less effective than silica gel and can be messy. Borax should be kept away from children and pets and handled with care, and it can be harder to brush off delicate petals.
• Drying in a vase: Some flowers, including hydrangeas and roses, dry naturally if you let the water evaporate from the vase.
• Hairspray after air drying can help reduce shedding. Use it outdoors or in a ventilated space, away from flames and pets.

Be realistic: without a desiccant, thick flowers may shrink or brown more.

Microwave and oven drying

These faster methods need care.

• Microwave: Place flowers in a microwave-safe container, often surrounded by desiccant, or between paper towels. Use short bursts on a low setting, checking often. Heat can scorch petals, and some materials can overheat unevenly. Leave flowers to cool and finish drying afterward, as many sources suggest letting them rest. Do not use metal wire or metallic items in the microwave. Follow your appliance’s instructions.
• Oven: Some guides use very low heat to dry flower heads. Never leave an oven unattended with plant material, and keep temperatures low to avoid scorching or fire.

Results vary by microwave and flower, so test one bloom first.

Flower-by-flower notes

• Marigolds: Thick, moist flower heads. They often do well in silica gel or can be hung to air dry in small bunches, though thick heads can take longer to dry fully and risk mold if not dry. Marigolds can also be pressed after pulling petals apart.
• Roses: Air drying works for many varieties. Silica gel tends to keep color better.
• Hydrangea: Often dries well in a vase or hung, especially later in the season.
• Lavender and statice: Good beginner flowers for air drying.
• Lilies and tulips: Often challenging. Consider desiccants.

Sealing, storing, and fixing problems

• Storage: Keep dried flowers away from humidity, direct sun, and heat. Bathrooms and kitchens are poor places for them.
• Mold: Throw away anything that smells musty or shows fuzz. Moisture is the usual cause.
• Brittleness: Dried flowers are fragile. Handle by the stem or base.
• Fading: All dried flowers fade over time. Display out of bright light.

Once your flowers are dry, you can use them for a keepsake bouquet or framed art. If you want to use dried petals in other projects, see natural dyeing with flowers, making ink from plants, or infusing flowers in oil.

Safety and toxicity

• Many popular flowers are toxic to pets or children, including lilies (especially for cats), daffodils, tulips (especially the bulbs), and oleander. Dried flowers can stay harmful, so keep them out of reach and do not use dried flowers in anything edible unless you are sure they are edible and untreated.
• Florist flowers may have been treated with chemicals. Wash hands after handling.
• Hot glue, wire, and scissors used in follow-up projects can burn or cut.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to dry flowers? Air drying, especially with sturdy flowers.

Do dried flowers last forever? No. They last a long time if kept dry and out of light, but they gradually fade and become more brittle.

How do I know a flower is dry? Petals should feel crisp and papery, with no cool or damp spots. If in doubt, wait longer.