How To Preserve A Carnation Flower

Deciding how to preserve a carnation flower depends on what method you want to use. Flowers can be dried in several different ways, including pressing. Flowers can also be preserved by using common chemicals. The method you choose is determined by what you want to do with the preserved flower.

To preserve a carnation you will need:

• Newspaper or tissue paper
• Scissors
• Sand
• Borax
• Yellow Corn Meal
• Non-iodized salt

Pressing carnations

1. Cut the stems of the carnation to the desired length.
   
2. Place the flower between a sheet of newspaper, tissue paper, or inside a phone book. Spread the flowers so they are not crowded.
3. Place the papers of flowers in a stack and place a flat heavy object on the top. For instance, sandwich the stacks of flowers between sheets of cardboard on a flat surface, and place heavy objects (i.e. bricks, gallon milk jugs filled with water, or heavy books) on the top.
4. Dry the flowers in a dry, warm room. Avoid a room with moisture. Allow two to four weeks to drive.

Drying agents

1. Find a deep container that is taller than your flower. Fill half way with sand, or a mixture of equal parts of borax, yellow corn meal, and three table spoons of non-iodized salt.
2. Insert the flower standing upright into the drying agent. Secure it by patting the mixture around the stem.
3. Very slowly and carefully sprinkle the drying mixture in between the petals of the carnation. Start from the outside and circle the flower moving towards the center.
4. Store the container in a warm dry place for two weeks. Flowers dried by this method are fragile and must be removed carefully to avoid damage.

Resources:

Methods of Preserving Flowers