Imagine having a piece that brightens up any space, bringing beauty, color, and a touch of nature into our homes. Now imagine having that for a long period. Whether they’re received as a gift, picked from a garden, or bought from a florist, fresh flowers always add joy and life to any occasion. Yes, flowers have a short lifespan, often wilting and fading within days, making their beauty fleeting. But what if you could preserve that beauty for weeks, months, or even years? In this blog post, we will explore various methods on how to preserve fresh flowers, focusing on techniques such as preserving them in a jar, using them for decoration, keeping real flowers intact for long-term enjoyment, and even preserving them in frames. If you’re looking for beautiful, high-quality fresh flowers, Fresh Flowers By Olive is an excellent choice for all your floral needs.

How to Preserve Fresh Flowers in a Jar

Preserving fresh flowers in a jar is one of the simplest and most elegant ways to keep their beauty intact for a longer time. There are a few methods that you can use to achieve this, and the process can be done with some basic tools you likely already have at home. If you’ve recently bought fresh flowers from Fresh Flowers By Olive, you’ll definitely want to keep them looking fresh for as long as possible.

1. Air-Drying Flowers in a Jar

Air drying is one of the most natural and commonly used methods for preserving flowers. This technique works best for flowers with sturdy petals, like roses, lavender, and daisies, which you can easily find at Fresh Flowers By Olive. Here’s how you can preserve flowers using this method:

Materials Needed:

• Fresh flowers
• A clean jar (mason jars or vintage glass jars work well)
• Twine or rubber bands
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Select Your Flowers: Choose fresh flowers that are in their prime. Ensure that they are not too wilted or damaged before beginning the preservation process. Fresh Flowers By

Olive offers a range of fresh flowers, so you’ll have plenty to choose from.

 

2. Trim the Stems: Cut the stems of the flowers to your desired length. Make sure they’re long enough to fit into the jar but not too long that they crowd the space.

 

3. Tie the Flowers Together: Gather the flowers into small bunches, tying the stems together with twine or a rubber band. It’s essential to keep them tightly bound, so they remain upright while drying.

 

4. Hang the Flowers: Turn the jar upside down and hang the bunches of flowers by the tied stems from the rim. This method allows air to circulate around the flowers, helping them to dry more evenly. If you don’t want to hang them, you can also place the flowers inside the jar loosely.

 

5. Place in a Dry, Dark Area: Store the jar in a cool, dry, and dark location. Direct sunlight can cause the flowers to fade, so it’s best to keep them away from light. The drying process can take anywhere from two to four weeks depending on the flower type and environmental conditions.

 

6. Enjoy Your Preserved Flowers: Once the flowers have dried, they will retain their shape and color, making for a lovely display. You can leave them in the jar for a rustic, vintage look or add some decorative items like beads or ribbons for a more personalized touch.

 

2. Using Silica Gel for Faster Drying

If you’re looking to preserve flowers more quickly and prevent them from losing their vibrant colors, using silica gel can be a great alternative. Silica gel works by absorbing moisture from the flowers, leaving them dry and intact. You can purchase silica gel at many craft stores, or check with Fresh Flowers By Olive for tips on preserving the flowers you purchase from them.

Materials Needed:

• Fresh flowers
• Silica gel
• An airtight container
• A clean jar

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Flowers: Trim the stems to your desired length and carefully remove any leaves that might interfere with the drying process.

 

2. Fill a Container with Silica Gel: Pour a layer of silica gel into the bottom of the container, ensuring there is enough to cover the flowers fully.

 

3. Place the Flowers in the Gel: Gently place the flowers into the silica gel, making sure the petals are fully submerged in the gel. Avoid crushing the petals during this process.

 

4. Cover the Flowers: Add more silica gel on top of the flowers, ensuring they’re completely covered.

 

5. Wait for Drying: Seal the container and leave it in a dry place for approximately 2-3 days. Once the flowers are dry to the touch, remove them carefully from the gel.

 

6. Display in a Jar: You can now place your preserved flowers in a jar to display them. The silica gel method helps to retain the shape and color of the flowers much better than air-drying.

 

 

How to Preserve Fresh Flowers for Decoration

Using preserved flowers for decoration adds a timeless charm to any room or event. Here are a few creative and practical ways to preserve fresh flowers for decoration purposes. If you want the best flowers for your decor, Fresh Flowers By Olive offers stunning selections that are perfect for preserving and decorating.

1. Pressing Flowers for Flat Decorations

Pressed flowers can be used in a variety of decorative items such as framed artwork, bookmarks, cards, or as part of DIY projects. Pressing flowers allows you to preserve their color and shape while giving them a flat form that’s easy to handle and display. Flowers from Fresh Flowers By Olive are perfect for this technique because they arrive in pristine condition.

Materials Needed:

• Fresh flowers
• Heavy books or a flower press
• Parchment paper or absorbent paper
• Tweezers

Instructions:

1. Choose the Right Flowers: Select flowers that are flat or can easily be pressed without curling too much. Flowers like violets, pansies, and daisies are great for pressing. You can find a variety of these flowers at Fresh Flowers By Olive.

 

2. Prepare the Flowers: Trim the flowers to remove excess stems, and if you’re pressing multiple flowers, make sure they don’t overlap.

 

3. Place the Flowers Between Paper: Lay the flowers carefully between parchment or absorbent paper. Arrange the flowers so they lie flat and without overlapping.

 

4. Press the Flowers: Place the paper with the flowers inside a heavy book or a flower press. If using a book, make sure it’s large and heavy enough to press down on the flowers.

 

5. Wait for the Flowers to Dry: Allow the flowers to press for at least 1-2 weeks. Once they are dry and flattened, you can remove them and use them for decoration.

 

6. Display the Pressed Flowers: You can frame your pressed flowers, use them in handmade cards, or create a beautiful flower arrangement by adding them to scrapbooks or journals.

 

2. Using Resin to Preserve Flowers for Decoration

Resin is a fantastic option for preserving flowers in their original form while also turning them into decorative items like coasters, jewelry, or paperweights. Fresh flowers from Fresh Flowers By Olive are ideal for resin preservation since they arrive fresh and vibrant.

Materials Needed:

• Fresh flowers
• Epoxy resin kit
• Mold (such as silicone molds for jewelry or coasters)
• Gloves
• Stirring stick

Instructions:

1. Prepare Your Flowers: Trim the flowers and carefully remove any unwanted leaves. If the flowers are bulky, you might want to cut them down to fit in the mold.

 

2. Mix the Resin: Follow the instructions on your epoxy resin kit. You’ll need to mix the resin and hardener in a specific ratio to ensure it sets correctly.

 

3. Place Flowers in Molds: Once the resin is mixed, pour a thin layer into the bottom of the mold. Then, arrange the flowers inside the mold. Be gentle to avoid damaging them.

 

4. Fill the Molds with Resin: Pour additional resin into the mold, covering the flowers completely. Make sure there are no air bubbles. You may need to wait a few hours between layers if you’re using multiple layers.

 

5. Allow the Resin to Cure: Let the resin cure for at least 24-48 hours in a dry, warm place. Once it’s completely set, remove the preserved flowers from the molds.

 

6. Enjoy Your Decorative Flower Pieces: You can now use your preserved flower resin pieces as coasters, pendants, or any other creative decoration.

 

How to Preserve Flowers in Frame

 

Preserving flowers in a frame is one of the most beautiful ways to display them long-term. By framing flowers, you can immortalize special moments, such as weddings, anniversaries, or birthdays, through a decorative piece of art. Whether you’re using pressed flowers or entire blooms, framing flowers creates a timeless piece of art that can be admired for years.

1. Pressed Flower Framing

Pressed flowers, as mentioned earlier, are perfect for framing. This method is simple, and the results are stunning. The flowers will retain their color and shape, while the frame acts as a protective barrier.

Materials Needed:

• Fresh flowers (from Fresh Flowers By Olive)
• Heavy book or flower press
• Parchment paper
• Frame with glass (a shadow box frame works best for a more dramatic effect)

Instructions:

1. Select and Prepare Your Flowers: Choose flowers that are flat or can be easily pressed. Roses, violets, and daisies are great choices. After trimming, place the flowers between parchment paper.

 

2. Press the Flowers: Use a heavy book or a flower press to flatten the flowers. Leave them for about 1-2 weeks to ensure they are completely dried.

 

3. Arrange the Flowers: Once the flowers are pressed and dried, carefully arrange them in the frame. Use tweezers to position the flowers neatly.

 

4. Frame Your Flowers: Place the flowers between the glass and backing board of the frame. You can use a shadow box to give the flowers a 3D look or a standard frame for a flatter appearance.

 

5. Display and Enjoy: Once framed, your flowers will be beautifully preserved and displayed, bringing a touch of nature into your space for years to come.

 

2. Framing Entire Flowers

If you prefer to keep the flowers in their full, three-dimensional form, you can frame them by using a deeper frame, such as a shadow box. This method works well for more voluminous flowers like lilies, sunflowers, or hydrangeas.

Materials Needed:

• Fresh flowers (from Fresh Flowers By Olive)
• Shadow box frame
• Floral wire (optional)

Instructions:

1. Select and Prepare the Flowers: Choose flowers that can be displayed in their full form. Hydrangeas and roses work well for this technique. Trim the stems to fit the size of the frame.

 

2. Position the Flowers: Arrange the flowers inside the shadow box frame. You may need to secure the stems with floral wire or tape, depending on the flower’s structure.

 

3. Secure the Flowers: Once positioned, gently secure the flowers in place. Be mindful of the petals, as they can be fragile.

 

4. Seal the Frame: Close the shadow box, ensuring the flowers are protected by the glass.

 

5. Display and Admire: Your framed flowers will now be preserved and serve as a unique piece of home decor

Conclusion

Preserving fresh flowers is a wonderful way to extend their beauty and enjoy them long after their natural life has ended. Whether you’re using a simple jar method, pressing flowers, framing them for decoration, or using professional techniques like freeze-drying, there are endless possibilities to keep flowers looking gorgeous and vibrant. Fresh Flowers By Olive offers an excellent selection of fresh flowers that are perfect for these preservation methods, allowing you to cherish their beauty for years. Experiment with these methods to find which one works best for your flowers and personal style. Preserved flowers make for stunning decorative pieces, thoughtful gifts, and lasting mementos that will always remind you of special moments.