Preserve many flowers by drying them in sand, borax/cornmeal mixtures or silica gel. Cut flowers when they are fully open, but before the centers get large.

Use sand or a mix of 4 parts cornmeal to 1 part borax, with an open container. Place flower heads with single rows of petals face down on a layer of sand or borax mix and gently trickle the granules over and around each flower. Flower heads with multiple rows of petals dry best when set upright in the drying medium. This requires that their stems be wired for stability.

Be sure the sand trickles into all crevices and covers the flowers at least an inch or two deep. Do not cover the box, because they need air to dry out. Check them periodically for complete dryness before removing the flowers. The process may take 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the humidity and warmth of the surrounding air.

With silica gel, a dry desiccant powder available in craft stores and florist shops, place the flower heads face down into a container partially filled with the silica gel. The container should have an airtight lid. Single-petal types of flowers do best with this method. Gently sift more silica gel on and around each flower head, to make sure the flowers are completely covered. Then close the lid tightly. Check the flowers after 3 to 5 days.

If your humidity is fairly low (below 50%) some flowers can be dried by hanging the stems upside down in some manner that allows the air to circulate around the whole plant.

Outstanding Flowers For Drying

Here are some of the best flowers to grow for drying.

Baby's breath
Cock's-comb
Globe amaranth
Globe thistle
Lavender
Sage, mealy-cup
Statice
Strawflower
Tansy
Wormwood, Silver King
Xeranthemum
Yarrow, fernleaf