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If you want to make a keepsake out of your hydrangea bouquet, here are some steps you can follow to preserve your beautiful bouquet. This technique will show you how to dry hydrangeas with silica gel. You can also use this technique to dry the other flowers that are used in your hydrangea bouquet.
Here are the things that you will need:
- Containers with lid. You need a container for each type of flower in your bouquet. They have to be slightly bigger than your hydrangeas and other blooms.
- Silica gel. This is your preservation agent. You need enough silica gel to completely cover your blooms in the container.
And here’s what you need to do:
- Disassemble your bouquet and group your flowers according to type. If you are worried about putting the bouquet back together, record yourself as you disassemble the bouquet. You can use the video as a guide to putting the bouquet back together later on.
- Cut the stems of the flowers, leaving about an inch from the base of the flowers. You want to submerge the flowers and their stems entirely in silica gel, so the shorter you can get the stems, the fewer silica gel you’ll need to use.
- Get your container. Layer the bottom of the container with about 1/2” of silica gel.
- Hold the flowers up side down inside the container, taking care to make sure no part of it touches the container. Gently fill the container with silica gel. We want to preserve the color and the shape of the flower, so we want to make sure it is completely covered with our preservative. Top the container with at least 1/2” of silica gel before putting on the lid.
- Set aside and store in a cool and dry place. The drying time can vary from 2 to 7 days depending on the type of flower you are preserving. Don’t leave the flowers too long because the can “over dry” or “burn” and fall apart.
- When the flowers are ready, gently and slowly remove the silica gel from the container. Use a soft bristle brush to remove any silica gel that sticks to the flowers.
- Place the dried flowers in a dry and clean covered container until you are ready to recreate your bouquet.
- Use florist’s wire and green floral tape to add the desired length to your dried flowers. Once you’ve reassembled your bouquet, the best place to store them is in a clean and covered container, away from heat and humidity.
Now that you know how to dry hydrangeas with silica gel, you can easily preserve your hydrangea bouquets and enjoy them for many years to come. Dry hydrangeas and other flowers also make wonderful gifts to friends and families, making this an enjoyable and worthwhile hobby.
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