Flowers have long been used at funerals. For some they are comforting, a sign of respect for the deceased, a show of admiration, or even a display of celebration. Some choose to maintain a memory of the deceased by preserving the flowers from the funeral or grave site. While many people will simply take a single flower to press between the family bible, others want to take it a step further by preserving flowers in a way that will allow them to be displayed.
Instructions
Preserving Flowers With Borax
1. Choose a box large enough to hold the flowers you will be drying. Remember that the flowers will dry in the shape that they are placed in the box.
2. Strain the borax to remove all lumps. Mix 1 part silica gel to 4 parts borax. Pour some of the mixture into the box, covering the bottom of the box at least 1-inch deep.
3. Cut the stems from the flowers if you want. Lay the flowers on the layer of borax/gel mixture. Pour in more of the mixture until all of the flowers are thoroughly covered. Flowers can be placed on top of each other, with layers of the borax/gel mixture in between.
4. Gently shake the box so that the borax/gel mixture fills all of the air pockets around the flowers. Add more of the mixture if needed to make sure all of the flowers are thoroughly covered.
5. Seal the box with tape and store in a dry place. Do not store outdoors.
6. Check your flowers after two weeks. Carefully remove one blossom to see if it is dry. If not, return to the carton and reseal. It can take another two weeks, for a total of four weeks, for your flowers to dry completely.
7. Carefully and gently remove the flowers from the powder when they are dry. Gently blow off any powder on the blossoms. If necessary, use a very soft brush to gently remove any remaining borax/gel mixture.
Preserving Flowers by Air Drying
8. Choose the flowers you will be drying. If necessary, cut the stems so the flowers can be placed in your desired arrangement.
9. Gather the flowers into a bouquet. Cut a length of twine that will allow you to wrap it several times around the stems, tie a knot and leave you an additional length of approximately 12 inches.
10. Wrap the twine several times around the stems and tie a knot. Using the remaining length of twine, hang the flowers upside down from a hanger.
11. Hang the flowers in a place where they can dry, undisturbed for two to three weeks. The area should be dark, as sunlight can fade the flower colors as they dry. The flowers should also be hung in a place where they will remain untouched during this time, as it is easy for the petals to become loose or fall off.
12. Place the dried flowers on a paper towel. Spray the flowers with hairspray, holding the can approximately 10 inches away. Allow the hairspray to dry thoroughly before placing your dried arrangement in a container of choice.
