Step 1
Care for your flowers properly while they're fresh, and start to dry them before they're looking too tired. The fresher they are, the better they will dry and maintain their colour and form.
Step 2
Flowers that have sturdy stems can be dried upright. Softer-stemmed flowers (and complex bunches like wedding bouquets) can be dried upside down. It's an organic, artistic experiment, and every flower dries differently, with some colours keeping better than others, so be curious and try not to set any expectations!
Step 3
If drying upright, remove all water from the vase, loosen any binding to discourage mould from occurring, and dry the stems off with paper towel before returning to the dry vase.
Choose a vase with a wide mouth, not a tight neck, as the moisture from the flowers will evaporate and it needs to escape. Check for and clean off any mould while your flowers dry - a clear vase helps visibility.
Step 4
If drying upside down, keep the binding in place.
Step 5
Hang in a calm, dry place for a few weeks, out of direct sunlight or bright light (this will fade the colours). When you turn them upright, if the heads don't droop, it's usually a sign they're dry enough, but keep an eye on them and dry them longer if needed. Bigger flowers need longer to dry, and can take even longer in cooler months. Leave them as long as they need.
Step 6
Once they're dry you can enjoy them indefinitely... it is completely personal preference to decide when a dried flower is 'spent'. Remove and compost any stems that don't spark joy. It is best to also remove stems that have gone to seed or are shedding lots (as this creates mess and could spark your allergies!). On average, natural dried arrangements can last 3-5 years.
