How to Store Dried Flowers
Only store dried flowers when they are entirely dried. You can store your dried flowers in either their original boxes, a plastic container a book press or a large zip lock bag.
We love dried flowers and the beautiful textures and colours they provide homes, especially in the autumn and winter months. However, once the season has come and gone, and we head into Spring it follows that we switch our interiors to reflect this, storing our delicate dried flowers away for next autumn. So, whilst it would be easy to give a blanket answer for how to store dried flowers, in truth there isn’t one, rather a few contributing ideas to think over when looking to set aside your dried flower displays for a number of months. Read on to find out more.
Store your dried flower arrangements in their original box
This is the most simple and straightforward solution in effectively storing your large dried flower arrangements, or small for that matter. If you’ve been forward thinking enough to have saved your original box/packaging this may work delightfully for your flowers. You may need to customise how the packaging now seals, however. Use high grade sticky tape or even better duct tape. If possible, extract as much air from the container as possible without misshaping your florals. Then store in a cool dry place.
Store in a plastic container
This idea works best for pressed or microwave-dried smaller blooms and singular petals, but can be used for large dried flowers, too. Use a plastic container that’s been thoroughly cleaned and dried. Again, the idea being that the least amount of air allowed to sit in there with your flowers will best serve you. If placing a whole bouquet of dried flowers in a larger container be as fragile as possible and always be sure to choose a hard structure container so the delicate blooms within aren’t in danger of being crushed by anything placed atop or beside it.
Store pressed flowers in their book press
This one is really simple and space saving, too. Simply keep your pressed dried flowers within their book pages, unless it’s a book you’ll reach for frequently this is a great place to keep your pressed flowers safe. Keep the book in a cool dry room. It’s really that easy!
Store pressed flowers in a large zip lock bag
This solution really works best for dried pressed flowers, small blooms and singular petals. Use tweezers or small tongs to gently place your flowers into a thick cellophane zip lock bag. Like the plastic container idea, be sure to extract as much air as possible without damaging the contents. Why not go a step further and place it within a spare plastic container to safeguard your precious flowers.
Only store flowers when dried entirely
When considering how to store dried flowers make sure they’re completely dry all the way through, this may seem obvious, but it’s also not as easily achieved as you may think. In fact, some flowers are just not suited to become a dried flower display. That’s because they integrally hold too much moisture. Be sure to investigate online which particular flower types to avoid.
Otherwise make sure your flowers are completely dry before storing, this will greatly decrease the chance of mold during those months spent hibernating.
Always store away from direct sunlight and heat sources
The title says it all, their sun worshipping days are now over! Any notable length of time exposed to direct sunlight will wilt, fade and at their worst simply disintegrate dried flowers. Find a cool, dry, dark and preferably ventilated place for them to be stored. This will increase their life and potential for years of use.
Consider dust limiting actions
When thinking about how to store dried flowers our minds did not automatically go here, but it’s a real threat to your blooms – dust! The only real way to completely eliminate dust is to vacuum pack your zip lock bag, but this can come at a cost to damaging the precious floral cargo. Other means to limit the dust are to dust as you go, whether that’s every few months by accessing your dried flowers and gently moving a small feather duster over them. Or alternatively we’ve seen various modern solutions including the use of aerosol air sprays, the same as used when cleaning computer keyboards, this can nicely and succinctly target dust – especially on smaller petals.
The best means of preservation is pre-preservation, glycerin or wax.
Lastly, this idea comes a step before you put your dried flower display into storage. Coat your florals in glycerin resin or in wax. Both of these practices are well known to prolong the life of your dried florals and are relatively easy to follow through with.
Now your flowers are all set for storing there’s every opportunity to keep your gorgeous displays going year after year.
