How To Preserve A Flower

Learn about how to preserve a flower to have keepsakes from special events in your life. Whether it's wedding flowers, a prom, or a special birthday bouquet, there are ways to preserve flowers to keep them to remember that special time. Many people keep mementos such as napkins from weddings or matchbooks from a trip. Preserving flowers lets you keep the memento and you can decorate with it as well.

To preserve a flower, you will need:

• String, rubber bands, or pipe cleaners
• Newspaper, cardboard, heavy object

1. Hang flowers to preserve them. The best way to preserve a flower is to hang it. Remove the leaves from each flower.
2. Wrap the stems. Wrap string, pipe cleaners, or rubber bands around the stems and hang the flowers in a warm, dark, dry place, such as an attic or closet. Hang the flowers so the stems are up and the flowers are pointed down toward the floor. The moisture from the flower will dissipate, leaving the flower preserved.
3. Display the flowers. You can then put the flower or flowers in a vase to display on a table. Allow a week or two for complete drying.
4. Press flowers. Another way to preserve a flower is pressing. Place flowers between layers of newspaper. Spread the flowers out so they are not touching each other.
5. Place cardboard under and on top of the newspaper. Place a board on top then some heavy objects like bricks or concrete blocks. Allow at least two weeks and as long as four weeks to preserve flowers by pressing. The flowers will be flat but can be used for decorations or scrap booking type applications.