Introduction
Dried flowers have a timeless charm that can brighten up any space; using dried flowers in your home decor is a delightful way to connect with nature. In this article, we’ll explore the best flowers for drying, practical tips for the drying process, and how to care for dry flowers. As this guide is for beginners, we’ll only take into account the easiest process with the least hassle - air-drying - and the flowers most suitable for this.
How To Choose Flowers for Air-Drying
When selecting flowers for drying, keep these following factors in mind:
Full Blooms
Choose flowers that are almost or fully opened. Avoid those with wilting petals. The fresher, the better. Ideally, the flowers should be firm to the touch.
Relatively Sturdy Stems
Unfortunately, this means gerberas and tulips are out due to their weak stems.
Saturated Colours
Dark and/or saturated colours can be retained well while very light colours tend to fade to a dirty ivory after drying.
8 Best Flowers For Air-Drying
Here are some delightful flowers that dry beautifully:
1. Baby’s Breath (Gypsophilia)
• Delicate flower clusters that retain their shape when dried.
• Great as a filler in arrangements or on their own.
Tip: Choose dyed baby’s breath to dry if you you’re looking for a pop of colour
2. Statice
• Fluffy and unique blooms that maintain their vibrant colors.
• Available in pink, lilac, dark purple and white.
• A beautiful filler that’s also perfect as a bunch by itself.
3. Roses
• Elegant and fragrant petals that dry well. Red roses retain their colour the best, turning a dark maroon when fully dried.
• Commonly used as standalone decor, they can be combined with other fillers to make a gorgeous bouquet.
• Red rose petals can also be used as event decor
4. Caspia & Limonium
• Similar to statices, their soft and fluffy plumes add texture to dried arrangements.
• Did you know? Limoniums can bloom even without water, so the dried variant usually looks better than the fresh ones!
• Pair with other flowers for a soft and romantic look.
5. Eryngiums
• Spiky petals that dry faster than other flowers.
• Its dark blue colour and unique texture is good for creating contrast.
6. Banksia
• This exotic flower dry the best. It has a soft texture, almost like felt, when fully dried.
• Large sized blooms make it a great standalone.
• Combine a bunch of banksia with some grasses or dried eucalyptus and you’ll have a large bouquet.
7. King Protea
• A large and long lasting flower with straight petals.
• Like banksia, it’s perfect for rustic style arrangements and wreaths.
8. Delphiniums
• Although colours retain well, their petals shrink drastically after drying (top photo shows fresh dark blue delphiniums; bottom photo shows dried pink and dark blue delphiniums).
• Small and clustered petals along the tapered stem make it a good choice for arrangements that require a soft and delicate feel
Where To Buy Flowers in Quantities?
While you may get some of these flowers at supermarkets, the flower markets are the best bet if you’re interested in the more unusual flowers (e.g. king protea, delphiniums, banksia) or if you’re planning to buy big bunches of them to dry (e.g. baby's breath)
• East: GG Fresh Flower (Tai Seng)
• North East: Sing See Soon (Punggol)
• Central North: Ji Mei, Candy Floriculture, Far East Flora (Upper Thomson)
Where To Air-Dry Flowers At Home?
Choose an indoor space so you don’t have to worry about rain. It should preferably be well-ventilated to prevent any musty odours if you are drying a large amount of flowers.
How To Air-Dry Flowers?
Remove leaves as they trap moisture
Strip away all leaves, only leaving a few if you prefer. Be sure to use a dethorner for roses to avoid getting pricked by the thorns.
Bundle Flowers Of The Same Varieties
For single stem blooms like roses, they can be staggered at differing heights so the blooms are not all squashed together. Secure the bunch with a rubber band or string.
Hang Them Upside Down
Select a space that’s out of direct sunlight as that will worsen colour fading.
Patience
Wait 2-3 weeks for flowers to be fully dried. Petals should be dry and crisp to the touch, almost like paper. If they are still slightly soft, that means they are not fully dried yet.
Tips To Prevent Mold on Dry Flowers:
Dry In Low Humidity
Unfortunately, this is difficult to achieve in Singapore, the next best option is to dry in a well-ventilated space.
Avoid Overcrowding
Don’t bunch 30 stalks of roses together. Ensure proper spacing between flowers by staggering them at different heights or splitting into smaller bunches of 5-6 stalks each.
Use Dehumidifiers and Desiccants
Put a couple of small desiccant packs near the blooms and/or a dehumidifier in the drying area.
Caring for Dry Flowers:
Handle carefully
Dried flowers are fragile. If any dust or debris accumulates, try to blow them off gently instead of brushing the petals with your hands
Display them away from direct sunlight to prevent fading
Direct sunlight on dried flowers for extended periods of time (around 2 weeks or more) will result in noticeable colour fading.
Can I Use The Same Tips To Dry Eucalyptus?
Yes! Eucalyptus is a hardy foliage that’s extremely easy to dry. Simply remove them from their packaging and hang them upside down. As usual, choose a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight.
Suggested Recipes
Dried flowers allow us to add a touch of nature’s elegance to our spaces. Their longevity and the minimal maintenance required make them an increasingly popular choice for many. Are you ready to dry some flowers at home but can’t decide on the type of flowers? Why not try some of these combinations?
Romantic red and purples
Red roses, lilac statice, pink limonium, eucalyptus
Simple but colourful
Rainbow coloured baby’s breath
Clean and elegant
King protea, dried baby’s breath, pink or purple roses, white delphiniums, pampas
Cozy and easy
Bunch of pink, yellow or orange banksias in a vase.
Gentle pastel
Pink roses, white limonium, light blue delphiniums, eucalyptus
Conclusion
Dried flowers are a wonderful way to add a sense of timeless charm to your home decor by fusing nature and creativity together. With a little care and attention, they can last for months, even years, so they are definitely more cost-effective than fresh flowers too. Our recommended method - Air drying is easy even for beginners, so make a trip down to the flower markets and start experimenting today!
Other Related Posts
Preserved Vs Artificial Flowers
How To Care For Preserved Flowers In Singapore
16 Best Florists in Singapore With Free Delivery
If DIY is not for you, why not consider getting some dried floral arrangements from a local florist? Whether you’re in search of fresh flowers or dried and preserved arrangements, KXH Flowers is your ultimate online destination. As a trusted florist in Singapore, we offer premium floral arrangements designed to last. Browse our curated collection of preserved and dried flowers, where quality and beauty are always guaranteed. Be spoiled for choice with both bouquets and jar arrangements in multiple colour themes. Let KXH Flowers help you express your living aesthetics with our long lasting flowers.
