How to Dry Roses: 5 Ways to Dry Roses

You can purchase dried roses from a florist, or you can make dried floral arrangements at home with a bit of preparation and care. Consider the following methods for drying roses:

1. 1. Air drying: This is the simplest and most common method to dry roses. First, be sure that you are using fresh flowers that aren’t wilting, losing petals, or showing any signs of decay. Then, remove the leaves, which won’t dry well. Bind the flower stems with twine or a rubber band, then suspend the roses upside down in a space with good ventilation (a hanger in a closet can work well), keeping them out of direct sunlight. After two to three weeks, they should be nicely dried.
2. 2. Microwaving: Microwaving your roses involves heating them on a sheet of wax paper in a microwave on the lowest setting. You can also microwave the flowers with a bowl of desiccant—like silica gel or cat litter—to help prevent the flowers from withering. The microwave method allows you to see the results within days rather than weeks and is best for flower heads or smaller plants rather than full bouquets of roses.
3. 3. Desiccant: You can simply submerge your roses in a bed of desiccant, like silica gel, which you can purchase online or at craft stores. Let them sit for a few weeks to remove their moisture. This method takes longer than microwaving your flowers, but it can preserve their color more effectively.
4. 4. Pressing: This drying method uses heavy objects to squeeze the moisture out of a flower. You can place the flowers between sheets of wax paper in the pages of a heavy book. Pressing is an effective way to dry flowers for crafts, artwork, or stationery.
5. 5. Dehydrator: You can use this specialized appliance to remove all the moisture from your roses quickly. This is an efficient method, but the devices are often quite expensive, making it less than ideal.

Dried roses have a unique color and texture, but they lose some of their vibrancy in the drying process. Follow these steps to help roses keep their color when drying:

1. 1. Pick fresh roses. When cutting or purchasing roses, look for fresh flowers with blooms not fully open. The fresher and more vibrant they are, the better they will retain their color after being dried.
2. 2. Dry your roses in a dark place. Hanging your roses in a dark place out of direct sunlight is an excellent way to keep them from losing too much of their color.
3. 3. Keep it cool. If the space where you’re drying your roses is too warm, the colors will be more likely to fade. Keep the roses away from fireplaces, space heaters, or other warm areas in the house.

Dried roses make an excellent keepsake of a special occasion and can provide floral decoration all year round or provide a simple, inexpensive hobby. Below are some tips to help you get the most success in your craft project:

1. 1. Look out for decay. The healthier your roses are when picked, the better chances they have of making excellent dried flowers. Trim any leaves or petals that look less than optimal.
2. 2. Remove any excess moisture from the roses. Gently use a cotton ball or paper towel to soak up any extra water on the petals to ensure the roses will dry evenly.
3. 3. Use hairspray. By applying a few spritzes of hairspray, you can help seal in color and prevent the flowers from losing too much of their shape, as the spray will add extra stiffness to the rose petals.
4. 4. Dab glue onto the stem. You can use glue to make the connection between the flower and the stem more robust. Dilute some standard craft glue with water, then dab the bottom of the flower and the stem. A toothpick makes a suitable applicator.

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