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Hydrangeas are among the many best flowers to dry. As proof, on the finish of the season, their dried clusters of flowers, much like paper flowers, can spend a part of the winter hanging from the branches.
When harvested on the proper time and dried utilizing one of many strategies offered under, you get stunning bouquets of dried flowers, vibrant and long-lasting.
When and how you can harvest hydrangeas to dry them?
Some reduce flower lovers criticize dried flowers for his or her dying and mummified look. Nonetheless, by choosing the proper varieties and utilizing the suitable drying methodology, bouquets of dried flowers may be rather more than pale substitutes for bouquets of contemporary flowers.
One of the best time to reap hydrangea flowers is on the finish of bloom, across the finish of September or the start of October. In the event you choose them earlier than the sap has had time to return down, the sepals will wilt.
Select a sunny and dry day to chop the hydrangea branches. Preserve a stem no less than 10 cm lengthy. By taking care to chop simply above stunning buds, the longer term flowering won’t be compromised.
Take away the broken flowers in addition to all of the leaves.
Technique 1
Dry the hydrangea flowers within the open air, the wrong way up
That is the only and most economical methodology because it doesn’t require any product or materials. Merely grasp the flowers the wrong way up utilizing a string, ribbon or our help for drying herbs.
To make the help: DIY Herb Drying Rack
Cling your flowers in a darkish room to protect their colors. In any other case, uncovered to gentle, they are going to be a bit of extra light. To hurry up the method and forestall rotting, use a dry and ventilated place just like the storage.
Technique 2
Drying flowers with or with out glycerin
You can even dry hydrangeas naturally (or virtually) by putting them in a vase. This methodology is each sensible and fairly. Simply do as you’d with a bouquet of contemporary flowers however put solely 2 to three cm of water. The water will steadily evaporate and the flowers will dry ultimately.
Tie a couple of hydrangea stems with a string. If mandatory, reduce the stems so that every one the ends may be within the water.
Utilizing glycerin permits the flowers to retain a sure flexibility whereas drying. They are going to be much less fragile and fewer crumbly. Typically used within the manufacture of beauty merchandise, glycerin is bought on the pharmacy or in specialty shops.
Glycerin needs to be combined with an equal a part of scorching water, then stirred till dissolved. As soon as the combination has cooled, pour 2 to three cm of it into the underside of the vase.
The drying time with the vase methodology can differ between 10 and 30 days. Within the meantime, you possibly can nonetheless get pleasure from an attractive association!
Technique 3
Drying flowers with silica gel
Silica gel is appropriate for all flowers, even probably the most fragile ones that lose their properties when utilizing different drying strategies, akin to roses, violets, pansies, geraniums or daisies.
Whereas hydrangea flowers are simple to dry, utilizing silica gel hurries up the method, just about eliminates the danger of mould and permits them to retain the color that they had on the time of harvest.
This product helps protect the quantity, form and color of the flowers. Whereas blue, orange or pink flowers usually stay devoted, different colors lose their shine with the strategies offered above.
Silica gel is bought within the type of crystals or beads on the Web or in craft provide shops. Some may be regenerated, providing a extra sustainable choice. These will change color when it’s time to regenerate it.
Variation: Some consultants counsel mixing silica gel with an equal a part of sand. Since hydrangea flowers are massive, this protects cash!
The best way to dry flowers with silica gel
- Get an hermetic container massive sufficient to carry your flowers.
- Pour a layer of silica gel on the underside of the container, in order to cowl it.
- Place the hydrangea flowers.
- Gently cowl the flowers with silica gel (make sure that it penetrates between the inflorescences and doesn’t crush them).
- Shut the container and wait 2 or 3 days, or till the flowers are dry.
- Use gloves to softly extract the flowers.
The best way to prolong the lifetime of your dried flowers
As soon as your flowers are fully dry, you possibly can spray them with hairspray if you want. This protects them from mud and humidity. Repeat the applying yearly. Remember, nevertheless, that the lacquer will make them barely yellow, which is why some folks favor to not apply it.
With or with out lacquer, dried hydrangea flowers can final for years. Very fairly in a vase, they can be used to make unique floral preparations. Watch our subsequent articles for excellent concepts!
To mud them, use the hair dryer on low pace and low temperature.
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