Grab a bowl or a flat dish with a shallow bottom. Cover the tulip with silica sand. Place your flower head into the dish and then pour a large amount of silica sand into your bowl. Make sure it covers up the entire tulip head, and try to pour a little bit into the center of the tulip, too.
Putting the gel into the center of the flower will help it hold its classic tulip shape. Microwave the tulip on high for 1 minute. The silica gel is drying on its own, but you can speed up the process by using the microwave. Leave the tulip in the mixture for 1 day to finish drying. Set your dish in a cool, dry place out of the direct sunlight. After 12 to 24 hours, your tulip will be dry and crispy to the touch. Method 3. Cut the tulip with about 6 in 15 cm of stem attached.
If your tulip is still growing, grab some pruning shears and cut the stem at a degree angle. Keep in mind that when you dry the tulips, they may shrink in size and lose their shape, and they will also lose their color.
Tie a length of twine or floss around the flower stem. Hang the flower upside down in a cool, dry place. Head to your garage, a barn, or your attic and tie the flowers up by the strings.
You can tie your flowers to exposed beams, nails, or hangers. Leave the flower hanging for 1 to 2 weeks. The drying time will depend on your particular flower and how wet it was when you picked it. Keep checking on the flower every week or so until the petals are dry and crispy. Method 4. Prevent fading by keeping your dried flower out of the sun.
Direct sunlight can make your flowers lose their vibrant color. However, you can slow the process down by keeping them in the shade. Grab a shoebox and gently set your dried tulip into the center. Close the box and put it somewhere cool and dry, like your closet or garage. When you want to display it again, take it out of the box carefully and set it up in your home.
Keep your dried flower away from heat vents. Hot air can dry out your tulip too much, leading to cracking or crumbling. Dust the dried flower with a feather duster when you need to. If you notice your dried tulip is losing its shine, it might need a quick wipe-down. You don't need to make a gliding motion like you do when you're ironing clothes. Wait for the paper to cool for another 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat.
Check occasionally by very carefully lifting the paper to see if the flower is stiff and dry. Using high heat on flowers might cause them to turn brown, but if you're in a hurry, you can use a microwave to speed the drying process. Follow the directions on the flower press, placing the flower between two pieces of absorbent paper and using to second zaps, allowing the plant material to cool between microwave uses.
If you are drying more than one set of blooms, alternate cooling, and heating with two microwave presses. In a pinch, you can create your own microwave flower press using two ceramic tiles and rubber bands to hold the tiles tightly together. Place the flowers between two sheets of absorbent paper, then press between the tiles. Heat for 30 to 60 seconds at a time, allowing the materials to cool before repeating. Or, place the flowers inside a book as long as there's no metal in the binding!
Heat the book for 30 to 60 seconds at a time, checking to see when the flowers are dry. Allow the book to cool for a minute or two between zaps. Don't microwave the book for longer than a minute at a time. When the flowers are dry, finish the process with the traditional air-drying press with a book or heavy object. The flowers should be finished drying in a day or two. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team.
If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Save Pin FB More. Credit: Adam Albright. The goal is to dry flowers as quickly as possible to prevent browning. Avoid paper towels because their textures can get imprinted on the petals. You should also avoid waxed paper because it retains moisture. Experiment with pressing techniques to discover which one works best for you and the flowers you choose.
After a couple of weeks, you'll have a dried, preserved tulip. Microwaves aren't just for quickly heating up leftover food: They are one of the best options to preserve tulips and other blossoms that have thin, fragile petals. You'll need silica gel crystals -- available at craft supply stores -- and a microwave-safe container large enough to hold the cut tulip. Make sure it doesn't touch the sides of the container.
Unlike with the other methods of drying tulips, pick fresh tulips destined for the microwave in the afternoon when blossoms are the most dry. Pour an inch of the gel into the container, place the flower on the gel and fill the container with gel to completely cover the tulip. Microwave on high for three minutes, and set the container aside in a cool, dry place for 24 hours.
Brush away the silica crystals to reveal the preserved flower. Joshua Duvauchelle is a certified personal trainer and health journalist, relationships expert and gardening specialist. His articles and advice have appeared in dozens of magazines, including exercise workouts in Shape, relationship guides for Alive and lifestyle tips for Lifehacker. In his spare time, he enjoys yoga and urban patio gardening.
By: Joshua Duvauchelle Updated July 21,
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