
How to Dry Hydrangea Flowers: Step-by-Step Guide
Dried hydrangeas hold the magic of gardens, even as seasons change. You can preserve the beauty of its large, showy flowers long after they bloom. In fact, they look great in flower arrangements once dried.
So, do you have lots of colorful hydrangeas around your home? It’s time to think about drying hydrangeas. You can dry hydrangeas in many ways, which we’ll discuss in this article. Keep reading.
What is the Best Way to Dry Hydrangea Flowers?
Hydrangeas are cherished for their colorful and showy flower clusters. It graces any space with a touch of nature’s artistry. The best part of this summer’s twilight is their charm doesn’t fade even after they start to wilt.
Hydrangea blossom can be revived by drying it. Drying hydrangea can preserve their beauty for long-term floral arrangements. You can dry it in different ways to enjoy its classic beauty throughout the year.
Here is how to dry hydrangea flowers at home using different methods:
Vase Drying
Among many hydrangea drying methods, vase drying or water drying is easier and cheaper. It produces hydrangea flowers in vintage hues. The vase drying method allows the blooms to dry more slowly to help preserve their color.
How to dry out hydrangea flowers in a vase?
- Use sharp or pruning shears to cut stems to preferred length leaving about 12-18 inches of stem. Cut them in the morning after the dew has dried from the petals.
- If there are leaves on the lower part of the stem, remove them.
- Fill a vase with about 1-2 inches of water. Put the stems in the vase and make sure not to overcrowd.
- Place the flowers stand upright to keep their shape during drying.
- Put the vase in a place out of direct sunlight. So, the water evaporates naturally over time.
- As the water evaporates, the flowers will dry slowly.
This process can take about one to two weeks. The hydrangeas are thoroughly dried when the petals feel papery and the stems are stiff. You can lightly spray the dried hydrangeas with hairspray or a floral sealant to help preserve their shape.
Hang Drying
Hang drying or air drying is one of the fastest methods for drying hydrangea blooms. It preserves hydrangeas long after the growing seasons. This way, hydrangeas are hung upside down.
How to dry hydrangea flowers at home hang drying?
- Cut the hydrangea stems to about 12-18 inches at a 45-degree angle.
- Remove the leaves from the lower part of the stems.
- Gather 3-5 hydrangea stems in each bunch and tie with a rubber band.
- The bunches should be hung upside down in a dark and well-ventilated space.
- You can keep them in attics, closets, or any other space away from the rays of sunlight and humidity.
Leave the hydrangeas to dry for about 2-3 weeks. The exact time may vary depending on the humidity and temperature of the drying area. Once the hydrangeas are fully dry, they should feel stiff and papery to the touch.
Silica Gel Drying
Silica gel helps to keep the color of hydrangea vibrant. It helps to dry blooms with less fading. The Silica gel drying method is somewhat expensive. Yet this method preserves the hydrangea’s vibrant color and delicate petals well.
How to dry hydrangea flowers with glycerin?
- Choose mature hydrangea blooms that are just past their peak.
- Cut stems leaving 4-6 inches for easy handling.
- Choose a wide and deep airtight container where hydrangeas can fit without touching the bottom or sides.
- Pour a layer of silica gel into the bottom of the container.
- Keep the hydrangea florets on top of the silica gel layer.
- Gently pour more silica gel around and in between the flowers.
- Make sure all the flowers are well covered with silica.
- Seal the container well. Let it sit for about one to two weeks.
Check the flowers after the drying period. If they are dry, carefully remove them from the silica gel.
Microwave Drying
Microwave drying is another quick method for drying and preserving hydrangeas. This method typically involves using silica gel. Silica gel helps to dry the hydrangea blooms while maintaining their color and shape.
How to preserve dried hydrangea flowers?
- Choose a microwave-safe container and pour a layer of silica gel into the container.
- Keep the flowers in the container and cover them entirely with more silica gel.
- Microwave the container briefly (about 30 seconds) on medium power.
- Once the flowers are dry, let them cool in the silica gel for a few hours. Carefully remove the flowers from the silica gel.
When Can You Cut Hydrangeas to Dry?
It’s all about the right time! The secret to successfully drying hydrangeas is knowing when to cut the blooms. Depending on several factors, you can decide the right time to cut hydrangea.
Best Season to Cut
You may want to cut your hydrangea flowers after they have just bloomed. But this is not the ideal time. You must wait until late summer or early fall (usually from August to October, depending on your location).
In the meantime, the blooms get enough time to get dried naturally. The blooms have matured and started to age, making them less likely to wilt when dried.
Visual Signs for Maturity
Some may think it’s right to cut them at peak color. However, it is not advisable to cut them too early as they may shrivel. Wait several weeks after the petals start to feel papery and change color.
The petals will look less fresh. Many hydrangeas will change color from green or white to pink or red. When you see the color shift, it is the right time to cut hydrangeas. Also, the petals start to feel firmer and less soft.
Weather Conditions
Weather plays an essential role in the hydrangea drying process. It blooms in the summer season. It is preferable to cut hydrangeas after a few days without rain. Wet flowers are more prone to mold. They may not dry properly.
Time of Day
Cut hydrangeas when the temperatures are cooler, specifically early in the morning or late in the evening. The flowers are less stressed by heat. This helps preserve the integrity of the blooms.
Choose Healthy Blooms
Select blooms that are free from blemishes, pests, or diseases. Healthy, mature flowers will dry more beautifully and last longer.
How Do You Preserve Cut Hydrangeas?
Hydrangea flowers can be cut fresh and stored in water or dried. We have discussed the drying methods above. However, you can also cut fresh blooms and store them in water for a while.
Place the freshly cut hydrangea flowers into a bucket of clean water. Make sure to cut older flowers and shrubs, as fresh blooms are difficult to keep hydrated. Let the flowers sit in water in a cool place to rest for a few hours before arranging.
How Much Water Do You Put in a Vase to Dry Hydrangeas?
Water needs to be used in the right amount in the vase-drying process. Otherwise, hydrangea will not dry properly, preserving its color. When drying hydrangeas in a vase, you should add 1–3 inches of water. Hydrangea prefers wet soil but not waterlogged.
That is, less than half the vase. The goal is to let the water evaporate naturally. So you shouldn’t refill it. Place the vase in a dry area away from direct sunlight. The hydrangeas will gradually dry as the water evaporates.
How to Dry Hydrangeas Flowers Without Wilting?
Dried hydrangea retains the magic of the garden’s past, can be preserved in delicate, paper petals. It is essential to follow a few tips to dry hydrangeas without wilting. Do not pick freshly bloomed flowers.
Mature, slightly papery blooms are less likely to wilt compared to younger, more hydrated flowers. Do not pick flowers when dew is still on them, specifically after rain or in the morning.
You can cut hydrangeas in the evening when they are fully hydrated. Also, the hydrangeas get wilt enough to dry. Drying hydrangea in a low-humidity environment helps prevent mold and wilting.
How Long Do Dried Hydrangeas Last?
Dried hydrangea can last from a couple of months to years. It depends on how well they are cared for and what preservation methods are used. Dried hydrangeas at home can last about a year.
However, professionally dried hydrangeas can last up to six years. If air-dried or microwave silica-dried, hydrangeas can last 1-3 years. When preserved in glycerin resin, it can last 5-6 years.
What to do with Dried Hydrangeas?
Dried hydrangeas are versatile and can be used in many ways to decorate your home. Interior designers, event organizers, and florists have used this versatile bloom over the years. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Create a Dried Flower Arrangement
Bouquets: Place dried hydrangeas in a vase as a standalone bouquet. Use other dried flowers with dried hydrangeas for a rustic, elegant look.
Wreath: You can use dried hydrangeas in a wreath for your front door and also as wall decor. You can mix them with other dried flowers like twigs, lavender, or eucalyptus.
Centerpieces: Dried hydrangeas look great as a centerpiece for the dining table, mantel, or coffee table. This adds a seasonal touch like pinecones or berries.
Make Floral Crafts
Pressed flower art: Pressed dried hydrangea petals can be used to create framed art, bookmarks, or greeting cards.
Potpourri: These leaves can be mixed with essential oils and other dried herbs or flowers. This makes a potpourri that will smell nice in your house.
Floral crowns: For events like photo shoots, weddings, or parties, you can use dried hydrangeas to make a pretty flower crown.
Decorate Your Home
Garlands: Mantels, stairs, or window frames can all look nice with garlands made of dried hydrangeas.
Seasonal decor: Dried hydrangeas can be used to make displays for the fall or winter. They look great with gourds, candles, pumpkins, and other natural things.
Shadow boxes: To remember a wedding, anniversary, or other special event, make a shadow box to hold dried hydrangeas.
Gift Wrapping
Gift toppers: Small groups of dried hydrangeas can be used to decorate gift boxes. How do I cut dry hydrangea flowers? Cut each flower at an angle with a pair of cutting shears.
Decorative tags: Put small dried or pressed hydrangea flowers on gift tags to make them look unique and beautiful.
Wedding and Event Decor
Table settings: When you set the tables for a wedding or other event, use dried hydrangeas. This makes each place setting look a little more fancy.
Bridal bouquets: For a vintage look, use dried hydrangeas in bride bouquets.
Preserve in Resin
Jewelry: You can make one-of-a-kind earrings, necklaces, or key chains by putting resin on dried hydrangea flowers.
Paperweights: To make a pretty paperweight or desk ornament, embed dried hydrangeas in plastic.
Decorative Accessories
Holiday decorations: You can make Christmas or other holiday gifts out of dried hydrangeas. Connect them to wireframes or baubles made of clear glass.
Candles: Dry hydrangea petals can be wrapped around the base of candles or candle stands to make them look nice.
Preserve as a Keepsake
Memory book: You can attach dried hydrangeas to a scrapbook or memory book.
Following the above-mentioned ideas, you can enjoy the beauty of dried hydrangeas year-round.
Final Thoughts
And voila! That’s how to dry hydrangea flowers at home. Which of these ideas works best for dry hydrangeas? To be honest, it depends on how carefully you do it and how long you want to wait for it to dry.
Drying in water works well if you have time. It retains the color of hydrangeas. However, it takes longer than hanging hydrangeas upside down. Either way, your hydrangeas are ready for use. Decorate them in your favorite arrangement.