How to Preserve Petals

Co-authored by Jeanne Walker and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: October 20, 2020 References

Preserving flower petals is a fun craft project, and you can use your preserved petals for art, scrapbooking, beauty recipes, and cooking. To preserve petals, remove them from the blossom and choose a drying method. Air-dry or press your flowers if you want an easy option and don't mind waiting 2-4 weeks. Use silica gel to dehydrate your petals in 2-3 days or try sand if you want to slowly dehydrate them. For a quicker option, dehydrate your petals in a food dehydrator, microwave, or oven. Store your dried flower petals or use them for crafting.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Harvesting the Petals

1
Pick flowers that are fully blossomed but aren't shedding petals. Petals look their best when the flower is blooming but before it starts to wilt. Look for flowers that have opened all of the way. Check that the flowers you choose have clean, unblemished petals.^{[1]
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- Preserving petals is a great way to save or recycle a bouquet of flowers. However, you can also harvest your own flowers from outside.
Tip: If you're cutting or picking flowers from outside, wait until the flowers are dry to harvest them. This will cut down on your drying time.^{[2]
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2
Choose chemical-free petals for beauty treatments, cooking, or tea. You may want to use your preserved flowers to make lotion, cleanser, body oil, bath salt, or tea. If so, use flowers that haven't been treated with pesticides or herbicides. Otherwise, you may accidentally absorb or ingest unwanted chemicals.^{[3]
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- For instance, you might look for organic flowers. If you want to use dried flowers in recipes often, consider growing your own flowers.
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3
Pluck the petals from the blossoms using your fingers. Gently pull all of the petals from the blossom. Be careful so that you don't tear or damage the petals. Place the plucked petals in a clean dish or on a fresh paper towel. Discard the stem, leaves, and center of the blossom.^{[4]
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- Throw out any petals that look damaged or bruised.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Air-Drying or Pressing Flower Petals

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Dry the petals in the sun for 2 weeks for an easy option. Cover a shallow baking pan with paper towels, then spread a thin layer of petals over the towels. Place the pan near a window where the petals get direct sunlight. Leave the petals to dry for 2 weeks, turning them daily to ensure they dry evenly.^{[5]
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- Pick a window that isn't near an air conditioning vent or fan, as moving air could blow the petals away.
- The petals will shrink and curl up as they dry.
2
Press the petals in a heavy book for 1 month for prettier petals. Arrange the flower petals in a single layer on a sheet of wax paper. Cover the petals with a second sheet of wax paper. Open the book at the approximate center and carefully lay the wax sheets containing the petals over one side of the book. Close the book over the wax paper and stack 2-3 more books on top. Wait 1 month for your petals to dry out.^{[6]
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- You can also use plain paper if you don’t have wax paper. However, sometimes the moisture from the petals soaks through plain paper and may stain your book pages.
- Pressing your petals creates prettier petals because they'll have flat edges and won't look shriveled.
3
Spray dried flowers with hairspray to make them last longer. Hairspray works best with dried flowers or a dried bouquet.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Jeanne Walker
Florist
Expert Interview. 15 April 2020.} Hold the flower or bouquet upside down in a well-ventilated area. Position the hairspray about 6 in (15 cm) away from the flowers and spray a light, even coat of hairspray onto the petals. Let the hairspray dry for 10 minutes, then display or store your flowers.^{[8]
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- Aerosol hairspray works best for preserving flower petals because the bottle makes it easier to apply an even layer of hairspray.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Dehydrating Flower Petals

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Put the flower petals in silica gel to dry them quickly. Put a .5 to 1 in (1.3 to 2.5 cm) layer of silica gel in a clean air-tight container. Place a single layer of flower petals over the silica gel, then add another .5 to 1 in (1.3 to 2.5 cm) of silica gel. Secure the lid on the container and let it sit for 2-3 days. Check them to see if they're dry.^{[9]
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- If they're not dry after 2-3 days, let them sit for another 2 days, then check them again. They will dry out within 2 weeks, usually sooner.
- Silica gel is a porous form of silicon dioxide that absorbs moisture. It looks like tiny blue or clear beads. You can purchase it at a craft supply store, big box store, or online.
- You can reuse silica gel until it turns pink, which means it's lost all moisture.
2
Cover the petals in sand to dehydrate the petals slowly. Spread about 1 in (2.5 cm) of sand across the bottom of a container. Place a layer of flower petals over the surface of the sand. Then, cover the petals with 1 in (2.5 cm) of sand. Let them sit for 2 weeks, then slowly pour off the sand to reveal preserved petals.^{[10]
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- You can reuse the sand if you like.
3
Use a food dehydrator to dry out the petals fast. Spread the flower petals in a single layer across a dehydrating tray. Put the dehydrating tray into the food dehydrator and set it at 90 to 95 °F (32 to 35 °C). Allow your petals to dry for 4 hours, then check to see if they are done. Rotate the trays every hour to help the petals dry evenly.^{[11]
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- If the petals aren't fully dehydrated after 4 hours, leave them in the dehydrator for another hour before checking them again. Continue to check the petals every hour until they are fully dry. It will likely take 6-8 hours for the petals to dry out.
4
Microwave the petals in 30- to 60-second increments for a quick option. Cover a plate with a paper towel and layer your flower petals across the towel. Drape a second paper towel over the petals and place a glass tile or plate over the top paper towel. Microwave the petals for 1 minute, then check to see if the petals are dry.^{[12]
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- If the petals aren’t dry, replace the paper towels and nuke the petals for 30 seconds. Continue to microwave the petals in 30-second intervals until they are dry. Change the paper towels each time you nuke the petals.
5
Bake the petals at 275 °F (135 °C) for 10 minutes to quickly dry them. Preheat your oven to 275 °F (135 °C). Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, then spread the petals across the paper in an even layer. Put the baking sheet in the oven and set a timer for 10 minutes. Remove the pan and let it cool before you handle the petals.^{[13]
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- This is a great option for when you have a project you want to work on right away.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Storing and Using Preserved Flower Petals

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Store dried petals in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place. Your dried petals should last for several months to a year. To prevent them from molding or decaying, place them in an air-tight container. Then, store them in a cabinet or pantry away from heat sources.^{[14]
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- For instance, you might choose a large, sterile mason jar for petals you plan to use for beauty treatments or cooking. On the other hand, you might choose something decorative if you want to display the petals. For a simple option, use a plastic bag that has a seal.
2
Make petal-infused oil if you want to make beauty treatments. You can use infused oils in beauty recipes or as a massage oil. Fill half of a clean jar with dried flower petals. Then, add a carrier oil to the jar, covering the flower petals with at least 2 in (5.1 cm) of oil. Put a lid on the jar and place it in a clean, dry place for 4-6 weeks. Shake the jar once every 2-3 days to agitate the petals.^{[15]
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- Great options for carrier oils include sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and grapeseed oil.
- Your infused oil will keep for up to 1 year if you store it in an air-tight container in a clean, dry place.
3
Use the dried flower petals for crafting or scrapbooking if you like. Preserved petals are a natural, eco-friendly option for creating lovely crafts. You can use your petals to create jewelry, decorative items, or designs on paper. Here are some crafts you might try:^{[16]
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- Glue flower petals onto a homemade card or a scrapbook page.
- Add the dried petals to a homemade candle or homemade soap.
- Create dried flower resin jewelry.
- Press the flower petals into wet clay to create a decorative dish or ornament.
- Make a dried flower bouquet.

Expert Q&A

Question

What's the benefit of applying hairspray? Does it help preserve the petals?

Jeanne Walker
Florist
Jeanne Walker is a Florist and the Owner of Fringe Flower Company, a floral design shop that specializes in weddings, special events, and daily deliveries. Fringe Flower Company, based in Walnut Creek, California, provides customized hand-tied and vase bouquets along with potted plants, succulent gardens, tulip french buckets, and wreaths. Jeanne also conducts floral design workshops and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Jeanne Walker

Florist

Expert Answer

Hairspray doesn't preserve flowers on its own, but you can apply it to dried items to keep everything in place and prevent pieces from shedding.