Drying peonies: properly conserving buds

Peonies are very popular as cut flowers, even for wedding jewelry. Not only because of this, the question of ways to properly preserve the buds and capture the beauty of the flowers forever.

Preserve whole blossoms

The head-over method is suitable for this, in which the blossoms or the bouquet can be hung upside down. In this way, bridal bouquets are evenly dry.

proceed

1. Tie the flowers in a bouquet. Bouquets that have already been tied are provided with a loop for hanging.
2. Wrap the bouquet with newspaper to protect against dust.
3. Hang the bouquet upside down in an airy, warm place.
4. A slight draft of air makes drying easier; strong winds can endanger the cohesion of the flowers.
5. Do not choose a place that is too bright, especially not in direct sunlight. Otherwise the colors will fade.
6. Dried bouquets are suitable as vase decorations and for dry arrangements.
7. The flowers can also be sprayed with hairspray to fix them.

Use of glycerin

Glycerine has long been used to make plants durable. It binds moisture, but must be able to penetrate the buds in order to preserve them. You can buy glycerine in pharmacies. Normal tap water is also required. It works better with warm water than with cold water, but it must not be too warm as the flowers cannot tolerate that. In addition to the open flowers, buds can also be preserved in this way.

1. Two parts of water are mixed with one part of glycerine and placed in a vase that is adapted to the length of the flower stalks.
2. Cut the stems of the flowers at an angle to improve water absorption.
3. Leaves shouldn't hang in the water as they could rot. They will be removed if necessary.
4. Place the prepared flowers in the water.
5. While the plants are absorbing the water, the conservation takes place. In order for this to work properly, no more water must be refilled.
6. The drying process is completed within a few days and can be recognized by the drops that form on the flowers.

Petals

Individual leaves of peony flowers are the easiest to preserve. Possible uses are:

• Tea blends
• Decorations for food
• Use in salads
• for handicraft projects, for example cards

Overview of drying methods:

• Dry salt (from the florist), silicate gel, detergent
• Oven with and without sand
• Dehydrator
• air dry

A tightly fitting can is also required when using a desiccant.

instructions

1. Fill the can with desiccant until the bottom is covered.
2. Spread petals on it, they should not touch each other.
3. Cover the leaves with the desiccant.
4. Depending on the amount of leaves to be dried, this method takes several weeks.

Note: These desiccants are not or only partially suitable for food, but salt and silica gel can be reused after drying in the oven.

Oven method

Sand is not used if the petals are to be eaten. However, this accelerates the drying process.

1. Sprinkle a baking sheet with sand.
2. Spread the petals on top.
3. Scatter more sand.
4. Baking sheet at 40 degrees for 30 min. leave in the oven. The petals should then be dry.

If you are working without sand, only parchment paper is spread out on the baking sheet. It may take a little longer for the leaves to dry.

Note: If the oven gets too hot, the leaves will burn or turn unsightly brown.

Dehydrator

Many foods can be preserved in the dehydrator. Households that grow and preserve their own fruit and vegetables often have a dehydrator. It is also suitable for preserving the buds of the peony. The petals only need to be spread out on the grids of the device. Modern devices are provided with a temperature setting that enables the right temperature to be selected for each purpose. Flowers do not need a temperature that is too high in order for them to dry out without changing color.
A disadvantage of dehydrators, but also of the oven, is the power consumption.

Air drying

Simply air-drying petals is only possible in warm rooms or outdoors in summer. A grid is suitable for this, which is built, for example, from fly wire with a wooden frame. It is also possible to spread the sheets out on newspaper or kitchen paper. They are shaken or turned a little from time to time, the drying process is then more even.
The leaves should never be in direct sunlight, as this will cause the colors to fade. A shady place is better. In the open air, attention must also be paid to air circulation. While little air movement is conducive to drying, strong winds can blow the petals away.
Bouquets or entire blossoms can also be dried on grids. Unfortunately, the result is often unsatisfactory because the flowers lose their shape or do not dry out completely. Another danger is mold growth if drying takes too long.

frequently asked Questions