How to Dry Roses

Roses represent a special occasion that we sometimes want to keep as a souvenir, but unfortunately roses will wither in just a week. Drying roses at weddings, parties or garden roses is a great way to have a memento that you can keep for years.

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Let the wind dry the roses

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Choose roses that are at their best to dry. You need a rose that is blooming beautifully, with no standing water on the petals or defects. Moisture will cause mold to develop, and imperfections will become more apparent as the flowers dry. You can choose roses that are slightly open, but avoid those that have already begun to spread and fall off. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Trim flower stalks. Trim the flower stalks, but don’t cut them too short. You should leave a branch at least 15 cm long to dry. Cut off the leaves on the branches. Rose leaves when dry will not look good and need to be removed.

The leaves on the rose stem will trap water and slow down the entire drying process. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Use rubber bands to tie the rose petals together. Bundle all the rose branches that you want to dry and wrap rubber bands around them. Leave a section of at least 5 cm on the outside of the elastic. Continue to wrap tightly. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

You can arrange the roses into beautiful bouquets before drying so that you can display them after the flowers are dry.

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Hang a clothesline in a cool, dark place. Find a room you rarely use, such as a laundry room, attic, or shed. The room must be ventilated so that the moisture can escape. Stretch a clothesline or rope between two points in the room and tie it tightly. Make sure the rope is strong enough to hold the flowers. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Choose a dark place to dry the flowers. Roses will darken during drying, but exposure to light will cause the color to change even more.

Hook the bouquet on a coat hanger. Pull a few loops of the elastic that is tying the rose branches around the hook on the hanger. If the hanger has an extra hook on the bottom, you can attach a bunch of roses to it. If not, pull a few loops of the elastic through the hook of the hanger. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Hang the bouquet of roses on the rope for 2-3 weeks. Hang the coat hanger on the clothesline in a dark room and leave it there until the flowers are dry. Roses can take weeks to dry completely. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Preserve roses with hairspray. Roses after drying will be very brittle. Remove the flowers from the hanger and spray them with hairspray to strengthen them and protect them from damage. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Use unscented hairspray to spray the roses.
Spray lightly to avoid getting wet, but the rose has just dried.

Use hygroscopic material to dry the rose

Choose a hygroscopic material. The desiccant is a product with a grain-like texture that will absorb the moisture in the rose and help the flower dry faster and more evenly. There are a variety of materials you can choose from, including borax, cornstarch, alum, and a popular choice is silica gel.

Sand is also an effective material in this method.

Trim the stem of the rose so that it is only about 5 cm long. You need to stick the rose facing up and keep it in an airtight container. Cut the stem to 5 cm and put it in a test container to make sure it can cover the top of the roses.

If the roses stick out too high, you’ll need to trim the stalks to fit the box.

Insert the rose into the hygroscopic material. Pour the desiccant into the box up to about 5 cm high. Insert the stem of the rose into the desiccant layer so that the rose is stable and pointing straight up.

If you want to dry multiple roses in one box, be sure to place the roses at least 2.5cm apart.

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Cover the rest of the rose with desiccant. Use a small cup to add a hygroscopic material to cover the flowers. Make sure the desiccant material gets in between the petals. If the rose is leaning to one side, you can use a spatula to straighten it out.

Leave the roses in an airtight container for about 1-2 weeks. Close the lid of the box tightly. You can also use tape over the sides of the box to make it more secure. If it is a regular rose, leave it for 2 weeks. Mini rose will dry after 1 week.

Write the closing date on the top of the box so you don’t forget it.

Remove the roses from the box and shake off the desiccant. Gently tilt the container to pour everything into the baking tray. Pick up the flower stalk and shake off any hygroscopic material on the rose. Gently brush off the petals if some desiccant remains.

If there is still some dust on the flowers, pour desiccant over those spots to let the remaining dust drift away.
Pour the silica desiccant into the baking tray to facilitate drying and reuse.

Dry silica desiccant beads for reuse. Signs of wet silica desiccant are fading or discoloration. If the silica has faded or changed color, such as blue turning pink or orange turning green, dry it again.

Pour the desiccant into a microwaveable bowl. Select medium heat or defrost. Dry the desiccant for 2-3 minutes or until it returns to its usable color.
Wear heat-resistant gloves and remove the bowl of desiccant from the microwave. Both the container and the desiccant will be very hot; Place it on a heat-resistant surface and wait 24 hours for it to cool.
If the desiccant shows signs of moisture, you should dry it before first use.

Expert advice

Follow these tips when hanging roses to dry:

Arrange the flowers apart. When hanging roses to dry, you will hang them upside down and arrange the flowers so that they do not touch each other. If air doesn’t circulate through the flowers, mold can grow, stink, and be harmful to your health.
Choose a dry place and avoid direct sunlight. Of course, you will choose a non-humid environment when drying the flowers. However, avoid exposing the flowers to the sun, as the sun will discolor the rose and make the petals more brittle.
Wait for the rose to dry completely. When hanging roses to dry, do not touch the flowers unless checking to see if the flowers are dry. Roses are very fragile, so don’t move the bouquet until the flowers are completely dry.

Things you need

Rose
coat hanger
Rubberband
Clothesline or rope
Hairspray (optional)
Hygroscopic material
Bowl can be used in the microwave

Warning

Avoid breathing dust from silica gel as it is not good for the lungs.

Advice

Let’s experiment! Roses of different colors can turn different colors as they dry. You should experiment to find a style you like.

Steps