How to dry flowers and keep them forever

Flowers are typically bought as a token and expression of a strong emotion – for love, congratulations, and sympathy – or to mark an important event such as a wrist corsage for a prom or a beautiful bridal bouquet for a wedding.

These are big life events and no doubt create memories you wish to cherish, so how can you create a lasting reminder of these special times?

The answer is, of course, to dry your flowers.

The art of drying special occasion flowers is having a resurgence, and it’s easy to see why. Something wonderful happens to flowers when they have been preserved; their vibrancy is muted, but their beauty continues. 

3 steps to successfully dry flowers

#1 Start the drying process while the flowers are still blooming lovely

The first rule of thumb for drying flowers is to start the process while they are in their prime and still looking their best. Flowers continue to open during the drying process so by using still fresh flowers you avoid the petals curling and drooping. At Court Florist we source our flowers from local growers and markets, so freshness and quality are guaranteed - this is important, it means the flowers will not be suffering from stress and be more likely to give you great results.

#2 Hanging flowers out to dry 

There are several methods for drying flowers – you can use silica gel and even dry them in the microwave, but at Court Florist, we prefer the traditional technique of hanging flowers out to dry. This is the simplest and most reliable method but is also the most visually satisfying. 

How to air-dry flowers:

Separate the stems of the bouquet and carefully remove any excess foliage. Combine stems to make small bunches and secure together with elastic bands. Twine or string can be used, but we have more success with elastic bands – the stems shrink during the drying process and the elastic bands reduce the risk of flowers falling to the floor.



Hang the small posies upside down on a makeshift washing line in a well ventilated cool, dark, and dry space for a minimum of two weeks. Hanging the flowers upside down helps them to retain their structure. Once the flowers have dried, hair spray can be used to further protect them before you restructure the bouquet. 

#3 Store correctly

Unless you are going to display your flowers, it is important you store the dried flowers correctly, they can last years if care is taken. Dried flowers are delicate and susceptible to damage so it’s important you look after them once the drying process is complete. Use tissue paper to protect them and store them in a cardboard box in a cool and dry environment.

Court Florist passionately creates floral bouquets and displays we know our customers love and enjoy; from our flower delivery Christchurch service through to our bridal and wedding flowers, your flowers represent an opportunity for real memories to be made. Contact us online or call 03 379 8255 today to learn more.