Hydrangea flowers are pretty as fresh, but they also make great dried flower arrangements. The trick is to dry them properly so that you can enjoy the hydrangea blooms all winter long.
How To Dry Hydrangea Blooms
Here is the complete process explained in detail on how to dry hydrangea blooms:
1. Cut the stems and place them in a bucket of water.
You can let them soak for several hours or overnight, until they are pliable and have no stiffness. If you have a lot of flowers to dry, you can also do this step on a large scale by placing the cut stems in a bathtub or other large container so that you don’t need to change the water frequently.
2. Remove the blooms from the water and lay them flat on a drying rack.
If you don’t have one, make one by stretching cheesecloth over an embroidery hoop or wire hanger bent into a circle shape.
Step 3:
3. Place the rack in an area with good air circulation, but out of direct sunlight, such as near your wood stove or furnace vent (see photo below).
CURING HYDRANGEAS: THE EASY WAY TO DRY FLOWERS FOR CRAFTS AND DECORATING
If you want to dry hydrangea blooms quickly instead of waiting for nature to take its course, here’s how: Fill a large bowl with cool water and add 1 cup of salt (this will help draw moisture from the flowers). Add the hydrangeas and allow them to soak for about 30 minutes; then drain off all but 1 inch of water from the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil (the hydrangeas will continue to lose moisture through evaporation). Store at room temperature for about 24 hours before moving on to step 2 above.
Step 4:
4. Hang up your roses when they are completely dried out — usually after about 7 days — using clothespins clipped onto each stem just below where it was cut (see photo below). You’ll be able to tell when they are ready because they will be brittle enough that if you try bending one in half, it will break rather than bend easily. The color should be light brown all over; if there is any green left on any part of the stem, they aren’t fully dried yet. Keep checking back every few days until they’re done hanging out on your drying rack!
TIP: KEEP YOUR DRYING RACK IN THE SHADE ON HOT DAYS TO PREVENT FLOWER PETALS FROM BLEEDING COLOR INTO ONE ANOTHER OR TURNING BROWN FROM OVERDRIED FLOWERS!
Step 5:
5. Once your flowers are completely dried out, remove them from their stems by pulling gently at each end; then store them in an airtight container away from heat and light until you’re ready to use them (see photo above). They should last indefinitely if stored properly; I’ve had some flowers that were more than 10 years old still looking beautiful when I used them! The best way is to keep them in glass jars with lids that seal tightly so air doesn’t get inside and cause mold growth on damp flower petals.
You can also store your dried hydrangea blooms wrapped in tissue paper inside decorative boxes or baskets that seal tightly shut so air doesn’t get inside either — just remember not to crush any delicate petals by stacking too many flowers together! If you find yourself without any storage options after drying all those gorgeous blooms, simply tuck them into empty coffee cans or other containers made from metal or plastic that won’t rust or corrode over time due to contact with moisture inside!
Just remember not put anything heavy on top of these containers because crushing fragile petals is never fun…or pretty! And finally…if there’s no room left anywhere else for storing all those beautiful blooms once you’ve finished drying them…just tuck some into vases around your house where everyone can enjoy their beauty year-round!
This is also great because fresh flower arrangements made with hydrangeas smell even better than dried ones do once they start taking in moisture again! Hydrangeas are known as “ice cream” flowers because their fragrance smells like vanilla ice cream cones when they are fresh…so imagine how amazing it smells once those same flowers have been allowed to dry completely!
Tips for How To Dry Hydrangea Blooms
Here are 5 things to take care of with respect to how to dry hydrangea blooms:
1. Hydrangea flowers can be dried by hanging them upside down in a dark, cool and dry place. You will want to make sure that they are completely dry before you store them.
2. If your hydrangeas are not completely dry after hanging for a few days, you can use a hair dryer to help speed up the drying process. Be careful not to get too close to the petals or you could damage them!
3. When your hydrangeas are completely dry, take them off the string and put them in a dark, cool and dry place where they won’t get too hot or cold for too long. A closet works well for this purpose! It is important that you don’t store them outside because they are susceptible to heat and moisture damage if not properly stored!
FAQs
Interesting Facts About Hydrangea
Here are 5 things you should know about hydrangea:
1. Hydrangea is a great plant for shade. It blooms best in partial shade or full shade, but will grow in full sun if given enough water — and it will do so with less blooms.
2. Hydrangeas are not native to the United States, but were introduced to the U.S. from Asia by John Bartram, a botanist who traveled around the country in the 18th century collecting plants that could be used for medicine and food sources.
3. The hydrangea’s name comes from the Greek words “hydra” (water) and “angeion” (vessel). This refers to its ability to store water in its large leaves, which can be up to 10 inches long and 4 inches wide. These leaves are also what give hydrangeas their color — they’re blue when they’re young and green as they age.
4. There are over 100 different varieties of hydrangeas available today, including pink, purple, blue and white blossoms on shrubs that can grow up to 6 feet tall or more! One of my favorites is called “Endless Summer,” which has light pink flowers that bloom all summer long!
The best way to dry hydrangea flowers is to hang them upside down in a paper bag. You can also lay them out on a screen and put the screen in a sunny location. Make sure you don’t place them directly on the ground as this will cause mold to grow on the petals.
How do I store dried hydrangea flowers?
Store dried hydrangea flowers in an airtight container and keep it away from heat and moisture. They will last for years if stored properly.
Dried hydrangeas are beautiful and make a wonderful addition to dried arrangements. To keep their color, you should use the same drying method as you would for fresh flowers. You can also use them in wreaths, garland, and other projects.
I love to dry hydrangea heads. They are beautiful in arrangements and perfect for fall decorating. I have a few tips on how to dry hydrangea heads.
First, pick the blooms when they are completely open. This way you will not have any buds that could potentially fall off in the drying process.
Second, pick the blooms when they are completely dry and the petals feel like paper. If you don’t wait until this point, the blooms will mold. You can tell if your hydrangea is dry by picking a bloom and bending it at the base of each petal. It should snap off easily instead of bending and leaving a stem behind.
Third, remove all leaves from your hydrangeas before drying them so that they do not rot while drying or get caught in bristles of brushes used to arrange them later on. I use my fingers to pull them off or scissors if needed but be sure to check out this post on how to remove leaves from hydrangeas without damaging them first! You can also trim away any browning parts of the stems at this time as well because they won’t be visible once dried anyway!
Fourth, gather up your blooms into bunches with about 4 – 6 blooms per bunch (depending on their size). Make sure that you only have one layer of blooms per bunch so that air can circulate around all sides