How To Preserve / Press Flowers

A Tutorial on How To Press And/Or Preserve Flowers

Say you very recently had your wedding, and your wedding bouquet is beautiful, you wish that you could have it for the rest of your life, but sadly they won’t last that long, so you decide you’ll throw them out when they die. . .that is until you realized that doesn’t have to be the bouquets fate! You can preserve/press flowers, wedding bouquets or just flowers from your first successful flower bed in your front yard. How do you ask? Read on to find out. 

Find The Right Flowers

Finding the right flowers is the very first step when learning how to preserve flowers. You should always choose flowers that are close to full bloom and avoid ones with blemishes or dark spots. If you are picking some from the garden, do it in the morning once any dew is gone. If you want to use a bouquet, keep it in water until ready to press. For large flowers with layered petals, consider separating the petals before pressing and then “reconstructing” the flower later, if desired. Regardless of what you pick, always make sure your flowers are completely dry, as wet or damp flowers can become moldy.

Best Types Of Flowers To Press

Similarly to the last section, it is important to find the best types of flowers to press. The best flowers for pressing include ones with a single layer of petals and flat faces. For larger bulbs or spherical flowers (such as peonies or ranunculus) you may have better luck preserving the whole flower. You can do this through various drying methods or by separating the individual petals from the stems. For thicker flowers (like roses), you can also split the flower in half before pressing. 

How To Press Flowers In A Book

Now there are many methods to pressing flowers but the simplest would be with a book, but there is waiting time involved so pick a book you aren’t going to pick up for a good few weeks! To do this method, you’ll need: 

A Sturdy book

Some paper to absorb moisture (parchment paper, thin cardboard, newspaper, coffee filters or blotting paper).

And a heavy weight (a paperweight or an exercise weight will do great).

Prep

Prepare your flowers is your first step. Note: if needed, separate petals beforehand. Arrange your flowers on one sheet of parchment paper with at least 3/4-inch of space in between. Try to press flowers of similar varieties or thicknesses together. 

Cover And Close

Next place the second piece of paper on top of the arranged flowers. Take care to flatten the flower face in the shape you’d like to achieve when pressed. You may find it easiest to fold the sheet of parchment paper in half. Then you can sandwich your flowers inside like a book rather than cutting two sheets of paper. Next, close the book and set a weight on top. You can also pile on more heavy books or a brick, but you’ll want something heavy enough to create even pressure.

The Waiting Game

Wait 2-4 weeks for flowers to dry however the drying time will depend on the thickness of the petals. For thicker flowers, you may choose to wait closer to four weeks. Some people suggest replacing the absorbent paper every three days or so, but that is up to you if you feel that you need to do so. 

For more tips on flowers check out Spring Garden Plants - What to Plant in Spring Garden!