Dry flowers with silica gel
Do you love flowers but want them to stay fresh? With silica gel, you can turn your favorite flowers into delicate dried flower art works. Let’s discover how to make simple and effective dried flowers right at home!
What is silica gel?
Silica gel is a granular desiccant, commonly used to preserve items that are susceptible to mold. When exposed to moisture, it absorbs water and keeps the surrounding environment dry. This property makes silica gel a useful tool for drying flowers.
Why should you dry flowers with silica gel?
- Keep natural colors: Dried flowers retain the fresh colors and natural shapes of fresh flowers surprisingly well.
- Long shelf life: Dried flowers can be preserved for many years without fading or deforming.
- Easy to do: The process of drying flowers is quite simple, you can do it yourself at home.
- Various applications: Dried flowers can be used to decorate the house, give as gifts or create unique works of art.
Steps to dry flowers
Preparation:
- Fresh flowers: Choose fresh flowers that are not crushed.
- Silica gel: You can buy at craft stores or online.
- Plastic box with a tight lid: Choose a box that is the right size for the flower.
- Scissors, tweezers (if needed)
Implementation:
Prepare the flowers: Cut off excess leaves and stems of the flowers, keeping only the part of the flower you want to dry.
Pour silica gel: Pour a layer about 2-3cm thick into the bottom of the box.
Placing the flower: Gently place the flower on the silica gel, then sprinkle more silica gel on top until the flower is completely submerged.
Close the box: Close the box tightly and store in a cool, dry place.
Wait for the flowers to dry: The drying time depends on the size and type of flower. Usually, the flowers will be completely dry after 5-7 days.
Remove the flowers: Once the flowers are dry, gently remove them from the box and use a soft brush to remove the silica gel stuck to the flowers.
Some notes when drying flowers
- Reusable: After taking out the flowers, you can sift the silica gel to remove debris and reuse it for other flower making times.
- Preserving dried flowers: To keep the dried flowers’ color lasting, you should place them in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and high humidity.
- Create highlights: You can combine dried flowers with other materials such as wood, metal, and fabric to create unique decorative works.
With the above instructions, you can make beautiful dried flowers yourself! Let’s unleash your creativity and make your living space more vibrant with unique dried flowers!
>> Further reading: How Silica gel anti-humidity grains work