5 Creative Uses for Dried Flowers

Flowers are one of nature’s most beautiful elements. Unfortunately, like many things in this world, their beauty is fleeting, and they dry and wilt over time. While there are steps one can take to prolong the life of their flowers, eventually, people throw them away once they notice their blooms have lost their lushness.

However, as environmental concerns continue to be a hot button issue globally, with waste pollution becoming an increasingly significant problem, the wasteful habit of dumping old flowers needs to change. Gone are the days when one just dumps their wilted flowers, as many are advocating for these dried flowers to be recycled (or up-cycled) to help minimise waste pollution.

But how do you go about achieving that? Well, let your choice online flower shop Malaysia share some tips on drying your fresh flower bouquet, and creative ways you can repurpose them.

How to dry flowers?

Air drying flowers is a wonderful way to get the most out of your flower’s life span, allowing you to make a lovely arrangement, wreath or even homemade potpourri.

Air drying works best for larger, fuller flowers, like those you would find in hand bouquets. If you are collecting your own flowers, pick them just before the bloom completely opens, or when they appear slightly immature. The flower will continue to open as it dries, and a full bloom’s petals may fall. Roses, strawflower, baby’s breath and globe amaranth are all wonderful options.

To begin, strip excess leaves from the flowers and stems, and cut the stems as you see fit, but make sure the stems are no shorter than six inches. As you undergo this process, place your flowers in water to avoid wilting. Once the flowers are cut and ready, dry them gently and begin tying small bundles together with rubber bands. The next step is to bring the flowers to your drying space.

Your drying space needs to be a dark and dry area with good ventilation and circulation – an attic or empty closet is ideal. Using string, thread or unscented dental floss, secure the flower stems to a hanger so that they hang upside down. Leave the flowers for two to three weeks until completely dry.

While air drying is the more organic and cost-free method, microwave drying is also an alternative option, and it will give you dry flowers in a day. You will need Silica gel, or Silica gel beads, which are available at craft stores. You will also need a microwave-safe container that you are okay to not use for food again after the project.

To dry flowers in a microwave, you will begin the same way you would with regular air drying, by cutting the flowers and getting rid of excess foliage. After getting the flowers ready, you need to fill a microwave-safe container with one to two inches of Silica gel. Then, place flowers blossom-up in the gel. Once flowers are placed, gently pour more gel over the petals until the flowers are covered, using your hands to ensure flowers are not damaged. After flowers are fully submerged in the gel, place the uncovered container in the microwave and start microwaving, checking the container every 30 seconds for 2 – 5 minutes (time will vary according to the type of flower).

Once you see that the flowers have dried, open the microwave and cover the container immediately. Once you have taken the container out of the microwave, open the top of the container half a centimetre to allow slight air flow, and let it sit for 24 hours. Thereafter, open the container and clean the Silica gel from the flower petals using a cotton swab or paint brush.

Preserve air-dry or microwave-dry flowers further by spraying them with unscented hairspray, and keep them in cool areas away from windows.

Now that you have your dried flowers ready, it’s time to get crafty. Here are five creative projects you can use the dried flowers for.

1. Make a homemade potpourri

A potpourri is basically a bowl of dried petals and spices that are mixed together to create a subtle sweet scent – think of it as a natural perfume. You can use it to freshen up the air in your home or give your clothes a natural aroma.

Sweet-scented and aromatic flowers, such as roses, violets, geraniums, and lavenders, are some of the best florals you can use to create a potpourri. You can mix them with your favourite essential oils to create a heavenly fragrance that makes your living space a more inviting one for your guests.

2. Create a botanical wall art

If you love decorating your living space with pieces of art, then you may want to consider creating stylish-looking botanical wall art that comprises your old florals. Your birthday flowers can get an extended life as an artwork. Dried flowers exude a quaint sense of elegance and profundity that make them perfect decorations for wall art. Instead of purchasing painted wall art, why not get in touch with your artistic side and repurpose the dried blossoms to create unique floral decorations in your home to create a minimalist yet eye-catching masterpiece.

3. Use as gift or card floral decorations

Aside from turning your dried birthday flowers into a great piece of art, you can also recycle them as ornaments to adorn your gifts or greeting cards. So if you have received any flowers this year, reuse them as embellishments instead of throwing them away once they have dried. This is an excellent way to achieve a zero-waste holiday season this year.

Pressing flowers is a great way to make compact, dried flower decor that can fit onto cards and notebooks (and are regularly used for scrapbooking).

Pass on your old blooms with love by using the small flowers and leafy cuttings from your bouquet as floral decorations on your gift or card.

4. Create a dried flower crown

Flower crowns are some of the most creative props you can use to achieve aesthetically pleasing Instagram shots. They are a popular fashion accessory that symbolises peace and love. So if you are looking for your next photoshoot idea, you can repurpose any flower bouquets you have lying around to create your very own flower crown.

5. Compost the flowers

If you have a balcony garden at home, you can consider using your wilted flowers as compost ingredients. This is an excellent way to repurpose your old flowers, as wilted flowers make for excellent brown compost material. Moreover, this process is sustainable and great for the environment!

Dried flowers are beautiful, forever

Flowers are versatile and can serve various purposes besides being a one-time gift or a temporary decoration for your home. Even after the lovely petals of your florals have dried, you can still use them in a myriad of creative ways. So, the next time you receive a luxury flower bouquet, think about the different ways you can repurpose the blossoms instead of throwing them away once they show signs of wilting.

If you’re looking for fresh flowers to gift, or perhaps some floral decorations to beautify your living space, Flower Nation will be able to help you with that.

Flower Nation is your one-stop online florist in Malaysia for flower gifting. Not only do we carry an extensive range of floral choices, you can trust the team of florist in Klang Valley with years of experience to create gorgeous arrangements for you.

The Selangor florist also provides one of the best flower delivery in Malaysia. Complimentary flower delivery Klang Valley is provided for orders within the vicinity.

Shop at Flower Nation for all your floral needs today!