How to Preserve Your Valentine’s FlowersYvette

Did you know that a lot of your Valentine’s flowers can be preserved and saved? Whether you want to keep your flowers as special keepsakes, reuse them for future flower arrangements or save them for wedding decorations, there are many ways you can keep your flowers. Here are our tips for preserving your flowers at home.

Drying

One way to preserve your Valentine’s flowers is by drying them. This can be done by hanging the flowers upside down in a dry, well-ventilated location for several weeks away from direct sunlight. Once the flowers are completely dry, you can place them in a vase or frame them for display. Follow these steps for perfect dried flowers:

• Cut the stems of the flowers to a length of about 6 inches. Remove any damaged or lower leaves and debris from the stems.

• Place the flowers in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Hang them upside down using string or a drying rack.

• Allow the flowers to dry for 1-2 weeks, or until they feel papery and brittle to the touch.

• Once the flowers are fully dried, you can store them in a dry, cool place in an airtight container or bag. Depending on your preffered use of them.

• To display the dried flowers, you can arrange them in a vase or use them as a decorative element in crafts or arrangements.

Pressing

Pressed flowers are a classic way to preserve Valentine’s flowers. This process can take several weeks, but once the flowers are completely dry, they can be mounted in a frame or used in crafts and decorations, ready to be enjoyed for years to come.

To press flowers, you will need to gather a selection of your favourite blooms and place them between two sheets of paper or the bets method is in a flower press. Place a heavy object on top of the flowers, such as a stack of books, and leave them for a few weeks to allow the flowers to dry completely. Once dry, you can store your used flowers in an airtight container away from direct sunlight, display them or get creative with them!

Epoxy Resin 

A preservation method that has risen in popularity recently is using epoxy resin. This method is fairly simple and will lock in the bright, beautiful colours of your flowers forever. To preserve your flowers using epoxy resin, follow these steps and please adhere to any manufacturer safety instructions:

• Gather the materials you will need: epoxy resin, a mixing cup and stir stick, a silicone mould, and the flowers you wish to preserve.

• Follow the instructions on the epoxy resin package to mix the resin according to the recommended ratio of resin to hardener.

• Once the resin is mixed, pour it into the silicone mould.

• Carefully arrange the flowers in the mould, making sure they are fully coated with resin.

• Allow the resin to cure according to the instructions on the package. This may take several hours or up to a day, depending on the type of resin you are using.

• Once the resin has fully cured, carefully remove the preserved flowers from the mould.

• To further protect the flowers, you may wish to coat them with a clear sealant or varnish.

• Store the preserved flowers in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading or discolouration.

Whichever preservation method you choose, you’ll be able to extend the life of your gorgeous Valentine’s flowers for far longer than a week and won’t have to throw your precious gift into the bin. 

If you do have a beautiful bouquet of roses that you don’t want to preserve but do want to keep looking their best for as long as possible, we’ve got a blog for that too. You can read about how to care for your cut roses here.