Drying a bouquet extends a fleeting garden moment into a decoration that can last for years, whether it's a single sentimental bloom or an entire cutting-garden harvest.
Air-drying is the simplest and most accessible method for preserving flowers, though silica gel and pressing each offer different results — some methods keep more color and dimension, others flatten blooms for craft use like cards or framed art.
Gather stems into small bundles, secure with a rubber band, and hang them upside down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated space for two to three weeks. Hanging upside down keeps stems straight and helps petals dry in a more natural, open position than drying flowers upright.
Picking flowers just before they reach full bloom, rather than fully open, generally produces better dried results, since fully mature blooms are more likely to shatter or drop petals as they dry.
