DRYING
HYDRANGEAS
HYDRANGEA SPECIES
- 'Annabelle' Hydrangea arborescens
- Lacecap Hydrangeas
- Mophead Hydrangeas
- Oakleaf Hydrangeas
- PeeGee and Family
4a.
4b.
4c.
5a.
5b.
6.
DRYING WITH SILICA GEL (continued)
4. Place hydrangea bloom in the
container, up-side-down, on a thin layer of silica gel (stem facing up). Hold the flower above the layer of silica (4a) and gradually sift silica around the head (picture shows hand holding flower too far above layer of silica) (4b). When about an inch of silica is holding the flower in place, you can release the bloom (4c). 5. Work the silica into the center of the bloom and under all petals (5a). When the first bloom is covered (5b) (including the stem), if there is more room in the container, continue to layer whole or parts of flower heads with silica gel to within a ½ of container lid. Do not force them to fit in the container, or they will be unnaturally shaped.
TIP: While sifting silica over the bloom, pay special attention to filling the edges of the container so that the silica will sift under the petals. Also, when the bloom is about half covered, gently knock the container to settle the silica around the petals.
6. Secure a lid on the container and label it with the date.
7. Four days later pour contents very slowly onto a newspaper and pluck out the dry hydrangeas.
7. Gently tap them clean and place loosely in plastic bags for storage until ready for use or lengthen stems and place in a vase (Standing in a vase keeps dried blooms from getting mashed in a plastic bag).
8. Do not leave hydrangeas in silica for more than four days, or they will be too brittle (unless silica is more than 2-3 years old).
9. To lengthen stems that have been cut short, tape a long dry stem (that may have been cut from a dead branch) to the hydrangea's stems with florist tape.
10. I find that spraying anything on the blooms after they are dry diminishes their natural beauty. I don't have luck using hairspray or clear spray paint to "preserve" them. After all the work of drying them, be sure to test on a small bloom any spray you may be tempted to use.
FINAL PRODUCT
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