How to Press Flowers: Your Complete Guide

What you'll need:

• Flowers or leaves

• Heavy books

• Absorbent paper

Method:

1. If you’re picking flowers, do it on a dry, sunny day after morning dew has evaporated. Make sure the flowers are as dry as possible before starting. Remove any unwanted leaves and trim the stems.

2. Open a large, heavy book and place a sheet of paper down. Arrange your flowers in a single layer, them cover them with another sheet of paper.

3. Close the book and weigh down with something heavy on top like books or large stones.

4. Leave the book for about two to four weeks in a warm, dry area out of direct sunlight. Change the paper daily during the first couple of days to remove moisture.

The traditional book method for pressing flowers takes about two to four weeks for the best results, especially if you're preserving colourful blooms like our full, ruffled stocks. If you’re in a rush, you can cut back on drying time using an alternative method.

Microwave method

Place your flowers in between two pieces of kitchen roll. Cover with a heavy, microwave-safe dish to press the flowers down. Microwave in 30 second bursts until the flowers are flat, then leave to dry completely.

Iron method

Place your flowers between two pieces of parchment paper and iron them gently on a low heat (no steam) for a couple of minutes. You may need to blot with a kitchen towel to absorb the moisture.

Air drying

The easiest way to preserve flowers is to simply hang them upside-down in a dry, dark area for two to four weeks. Once they are completely dry, you can lightly spritz with hairspray to help preserve them.

Silicia gel

For large flowers with intricate shapes, like blousy peonies or dense roses, you can dry them with silica gel. Pour a layer of gel into the bottom of an airtight container, then lay the flowers on top, then cover with more gel. Seal the container and leave for three to seven days.