Dye pampas grass ❤ Pastel and black (with instructions)

the essentials in brief

• Professional harvesting and drying precede dyeing. When buying dried flowers, pay attention to reputable sources.
• Take white pampas grass for bright colors. Dark varieties are almost only suitable for black coloring.
• After choosing the color, you can start coloring with household materials.
• Extra: Bleaching pampas grass - nice to look at, but often associated with major social and ecological problems.

Dye pampas grass - basics

A little orange color on the frond and it seems like the warm light of the sunset is flooding through fluffy white clouds. Intensely bright colors in a bouquet of pampas grass and a herd of rainbow sheep is tended. What shouldn't be missing? That's right: the black sheep! Using dark acrylic paint, pampas grass fronds become a dusky night-colored.

Pampas grass can be dipped in any color, so there are no limits to the imagination. But before you roll up your sleeves and cut your pampas grass in the garden, let's get down to the basics first. Because not every type of pampas grass is suitable for the colorful look. And one or the other trick helps when harvesting and drying.

The right starting point – dark or light pampas grass?

Despite the large selection of varieties pampas grass can be roughly divided into two, maybe three color categories: White, brown and pink. The latter sees itself as a rare exception. White and brown are the most common. A darker end tone is recommended for the darker initial tone. So brown pampas grass looks best on black. Because bright colors behave on brown flowers like on dark recycled paper: they lose a lot of their luminosity.

White pampas grass, on the other hand, is like a white leaf. Light shades of brown are okay, so it doesn't have to be pure snow white. With a light base, delicate pastel colors underline the airy appearance of the panicles. On the other hand, acrylic without white color additive provides for black and intensively colored ones dried flowers for the necessary coverage.

Harvest and dry pampas grass fronds yourself

Usually, pampas grass only grows in late spring cut. But for creative work, the most beautiful flowers can already be in the summer or autumn to be harvested. It should for the winter protection however, some fronds remain on the plant. Choose a dry day for pruning.

Harvest Instructions for Pampas Grass:

• Wear gloves, goggles and sturdy clothing against the sharp-edged blades
• secateurs or have a knife ready
• Grab the stalks and cut them just above the ground
• Set the flower aside and cut the next stem

The fronds are then attached upside down to a string and allowed to dry for between one and three weeks. Resist the urge to color the buds beforehand. Only professional drying preserves the beauty of the panicles. here we will show you the drying process in detail.

Dye pampas grass - instructions

When you have been patient and the flowers have dried sufficiently, you can start coloring. Solid pastel shades have proven their worth for white pampas grass and acrylic without brightening additives for brown flowers and for intensely luminous coloring. Have you already decided on a colour?

color choice

pastel

Pastel tones subtly color the fine panicles. Orange, blue, yellow, green, purple and pink serve as the basis, each of which is mixed with white until it has the desired brightness. You can also save yourself the mixing by using pastel acrylic paints. The set of Stylex consists for example. made of six lightfast and odorless colors in soft pastel shades.

Regardless of whether you mix the pastel paint yourself or buy it, in any case, acrylic paint must be diluted with water. In its pure form, acrylic is too viscous and would cause the fine fronds to clump together. Even if you want to use intensive colors, you have to dilute the acrylic. We explain the correct mixing ratio below.

Black

Around Dye pampas grass black, proceed in a similar way to the pastel tones. The difference is that the color should not be diluted with white. We recommend the Artina water-based acrylic paint for this. It convinces with a high pigmentation and strong opacity. A slight sheen also emphasizes the lightness of the pampas grass. For use, the paint is also diluted in water.

material

For coloring, in addition to the dry grasses, you will need:

• Acrylic paint in the color of your choice
• Possibly. Bowl for mixing the pastel color
• water for dilution
• Big bowl
• Soft bristled brush
• Clothespins + cord for drying
• Documents (newspaper, cardboard)
• hairdryer

Dye pampas grass: Here's how

First create space, hang up the string and spread out documents. The work area should also be protected with newspaper. Dilute 3 tablespoons (pastel) paint in 150 milliliters of water in large bowl and stir well with a paint brush.

Step 1: Dye the pampas grass

Slowly pull the dried frond through the diluted paint or submerge completely. Don't forget the base of the flower and the tip. Press down carefully with the brush. Alternatively, you can also just paint the flower with the brush, which is very time-consuming.

Step 2: Line dry pampas grass

After soaking in the paint, hang the flowers upside down on the line. They should not be lying down, otherwise there is a risk of clumping. Once you have hung up all the fronds, allow the ornamental grass to dry for about a day. If you want to go faster, you can also use the hair dryer. However, only on the weakest setting and with a lot of distance. Pay attention to the surroundings, because splashes can occur.

Step 3: Arrange colorful pampas grass

If you can slide your hand through the frond without feeling moisture, then you can use the pampas grass. In floor vases it takes a long time plume a good figure. Long thin vases throw elegant contrasts together with the fluffy frond. Dried pampas grass also combines well with other dried flowers.

Care for dried and colored pampas grass

To ensure that your pieces of jewelery last a long time, you should follow the important care tips. If you have dried the pampas grass properly, it can last up to three years. We will show you what you have to do for this and how dry flowers that you have bought become fluffy again with the help of three tips.

Tip 1: time

You can also buy dried pampas grass online. So you can enjoy the natural decoration in your home even without your own garden. However, so that there is no shock when unpacking, the following should be clear: the large flower is compressed for delivery and arrives quite compressed. Then simply leave the fronds in a vase. After about three days, the panicles open and the ornamental grass is fluffy again. Important: When buying, you should pay attention to an ecologically responsible origin and drying method.

Tip 2: Blow dry overhead

After drying and dyeing, the pampas grass can be carefully blow-dried. It is best to blow-dry the fronds when they are still hanging upside down on the leash. Pay attention to a little distance and consider possible paint splashes. The gentle breeze loosens clumps and small knots, making the flower appear fluffy. You also accelerate the natural drying process.

Tip 3: Fix with hairspray

When you're happy with your arrangement, you can spray hairspray on the dried flowers to help them hold their shape longer. It also helps against lint formation. For this reason, hairspray should also be sprayed on dried pampas grass that is not to be dyed. The sticky mass increases the durability considerably. After half a year, some of it can be applied again.

Bleach pampas grass and other dried flowers

dried flowers – as a bouquet, wreath or loose – enjoy great popularity. You could scroll through Instagram or Pinterest all day and constantly find new ones creative ideas bump. However, one trend is not as innocent as it seems: bleaching. White flowers, leaves and stems are particularly common as decoration and arrangements at weddings. They are also establishing themselves more and more in interior design.

Unfortunately, the business behind bleaching has a dark side. In an article, florist Anne Oberwalleney from ikoflowers - flower virtuoso and co-founder of the German Slowflower movement - draws attention to important points:

1. Socio-ecological aspects: Where are the plants from? Their origin is often unknown, which suggests exploitative working conditions. Added to this are transport, packaging and the lack of environmental regulations.
2. Health aspects: Industrial and DIY bleaches rely on a variety of hazardous chemicals that are harmful to health and the environment.
3. Water: Bleaching requires a lot of water. In countries where water is scarce, this amounts to a catastrophe.

Conclusion - "So the question is: Why on earth do we want to touch this stuff or sell it to customers?" - Thanks Anne, we'll sign it like that. The florists also reveal how to bleach plants sustainably and in harmony with nature in their article. Absolute reading recommendation!

FAQ

Can pampas grass also be sprayed with paint?

Spray paint is not suitable for coloring pampas grass. The paint is very heavy undiluted and could clog the fine panicles. With diluted acrylic paint in the paint bath, you can also be sure that you have colored the entire dried frond and avoid empty spots.

Why shouldn't pampas grass be bleached?

Bleaching pampas grass or other dried flowers usually involves the use of chemicals. These represent a serious environmental and health problem.

What material to dye pampas grass?

To dye pampas grass you will need: dried flowers, acrylic paint, brush, water, bowl, string, clothespins and pads.

How is pampas grass dyed?

When dried, pampas grass is either bathed in a diluted mixture of acrylic paint and water or painted with a brush.

How is dyed pampas grass cared for?

Dyed pampas grass must first dry sufficiently. Then it can be loosened up with a hair dryer. From time to time the frond can be fixed with hairspray. Contact with water should be avoided.