Which varieties are suitable?
Edelweiss flowers are ideally suited for drying. This also applies to roses, regardless of whether only rose petals or whole bouquets are to be dried. All varieties from the huge rose family are suitable for this type of preservation. The flowers used should, however, be fresh, brightly colored and, if possible, fragrant.Harvest roses
Various types of roses are available in flower shops all year round. If you have rose bushes in the garden, you can use them to your heart's content. However, there are time limits here. In our latitudes, the flowering time of this royal plant is limited to a few months of the year due to the prevailing climate.- Flowering time varies depending on the type of rose
- the first flowers appear as early as May
- The flowering season ends in late autumn
- Harvest roses before the wilting phase
- do not use falling leaves
- Petals should still be attached to the plant
- Do not pull apart budding roses
Process cut flowers faster
Roses in bouquets wilt faster than rose petals that are still on the plant. Therefore, fresh roses should be admired in the vase for a maximum of two days, then it is already time for the drying process. Most of the flowers are a bit closed at the beginning. Once they open, they need to be dried. Depending on your requirements, with a stem, individual flower heads or just the leaves.Harvest edelweiss
Edelweiss has found a permanent home in mountainous regions. If you meet it while hiking, you are welcome to admire it and take photos. However, do not pick! Because the edelweiss is under nature protection. Blossoms for drying can only be supplied to us by specimens that are cultivated or cultivated in our own garden. can be bought in the garden center.- you have to do without bright white flowers
- cultivated varieties are slightly greyish in color
- The abundance of flowers in the garden is also more modest
- in July the flowers developed
- it can be harvested
Different drying methods
Whether rose or edelweiss, it plays a rather subordinate role for the drying process itself. Depending on how many flowers are to be dried and what the desired result should look like, there are several options available:- Air drying
- Pressing between book pages
- Drying with drying salt, detergent or silica gel
- Drying in the oven
- Microwave drying
Air drying
Air drying is an easy way to remove moisture from fresh roses and edelweiss without changing their shape. The individual steps are described in more detail below: 1. Spread edelweiss, whole rose heads or rose petals on absorbent kitchen paper or on a grid. The flowers resp. Leaves should not touch or overlap.
2. Put the whole thing to dry in a place that has plenty of warmth. A boiler room is ideal.
3. If you use kitchen paper as a base, replace it about every three days. Or change the position of the flowers to places that are still absorbent
are.4. Turn the flowers and leaves over regularly so that they can dry evenly on both sides.
5. Gently shake out the dried flowers. Sometimes there are still small crawling animals hidden in it, which now fall out when shaken and run away.
Tip: If the leaves are still soft, there is still residual moisture in them. Let these leaves dry a little longer, otherwise mold can form.Pressing between book pages
The pressing of individual flowers has a long tradition. A flower is placed between the book pages and the book is closed. The flower gradually loses its moisture, but also its natural shape. In order for the pressing to work even better, the following information should be observed.- Do not place the flower directly on the book pages
- Cover with blotting paper or kitchen paper
- the moisture is better absorbed this way
- the leaf sides do not get dirty
- the flower must be positioned well
- Sheets must not lie on top of one another
- Every now and then change the dampened kitchen paper
Note: This method is not suitable for large rose heads. Plucked rose petals can be dried well in the book. Thanks to their shape, edelweiss flowers are also well suited for this press variant.
Dry salt, detergent and silica gel
Dry salt, dry detergent and silica gel have the common property of absorbing moisture. These funds also offer some advantages:- Drying is faster
- the original flower shape is retained
- cause better durability
- Dry salt and silica gel can be used multiple times
How to dry your roses or edelweiss flowers with one of these agents: 1. Choose a sufficiently large and screwable glass.
2. Cover the bottom with dry salt, dry laundry detergent, or silica gel.
3. Put the flowers on it.
4. Fill the glass with dry salt and Co. If you dry several flowers in it at the same time, make sure that they do not touch each other.
5. Seal the jar and let it stand for about four days.
6. Dry salt picks up the color of the rose. When the salt and the flower have equalized in clay, the drying process is complete. In the case of edelweiss, the effect is not so clearly visible due to the simple grayish color.
Tip: Detergent is cheap and available in every household. It is the ideal remedy for single flowers. Silica gel, on the other hand, is more expensive but can also be used several times. If you keep drying flowers, silica gel is recommended.Dry in the oven
Drying rose petals in the oven is quick and inexpensive. And this is how it works:1. Put a layer of sand on the baking sheet.
2. Spread the flowers or Leaves. There should be enough space between them.
3. Heat the oven to 40 degrees Celsius.
4. Put the baking sheet with the flowers in the oven for about 30 minutes.
5. Check that the flowers are completely dry. If not, extend your time in the oven by a few minutes.
The gentle drying in the oven is not only easy to use, the result is also impressive. The dried petals have a decorative curvature and still smell almost like freshly picked.Microwave drying
The fastest drying can be achieved with a microwave. Since almost no household now has it, there are hardly any costs associated with this type of drying. What you need for this:- fresh roses or edelweiss flowers
- a microwave
- absorbent kitchen paper
- two microwaveable plates
1. Cover a plate with paper towels.
2. Distribute the flowers on top with sufficient space between them.
3. Place another layer of kitchen paper on top of the flowers.
4. Cover the whole thing with the second plate.
5. Turn on the microwave. With a high wattage, about 40 seconds are sufficient. With a lower wattage, the microwave needs approx. 90 seconds.
6. Take out the dried flowers.
Drying whole bouquets
Beautiful bouquets of roses can be dried whole. The roses should be fresh and the flowers only slightly open. 1. Cut all the stems diagonally with a sharp knife.
2. Put the bouquet in a vase with a mixture of equal parts water and glycerin.
3. Take the bouquet out of the vase after two days.
4. Divide large bouquets into several small bundles so that drying goes well and evenly.
5. Hang the bouquet in an airy, cool and dry place. No direct sunlight.
6. Depending on the type of rose and the size of the flowers, the bouquet remains in the hanging position for about 4 - 6 days.
7. Then you can put the bouquet in a vase without water. They dry in there for another three weeks.
Tip: You can get glycerine in any pharmacy without a prescription.