Meaningful moments: how to press flowers
Whether it’s spotting them in the wild or receiving a lovely bouquet, every flower creates a precious memory. Here at Bunches, we understand that sometimes you want to be able to revisit those meaningful moments over and over again, particularly when a beautiful bloom is involved!
Whilst part of a flower’s beauty is its impermanence, you can hold onto your memories much longer by pressing flowers. Below we look at some common questions about pressed flowers, including how to make them.
What are pressed flowers?
According to Katie Avis-Riordan at Kew Gardens, pressed flowers are blooms which have been dried out “to preserve their beauty and intricacy.”
Katie goes on to explain that “The preservation process reduces the moisture in the plants which prevents them from rotting. This means the pressed specimens can last a long time and retain their colour and detail for years.”
Why should I press flowers?
There are many reasons to press flowers; when you preserve a flower, you not only preserve their beauty for years to come, but also the memory associated with that flower.
Pressing flowers also reduces wastage, as your dried blooms can be used in a variety of ways rather than ending up in the bin (although don’t forget that you can compost any blooms which have wilted!)
Not only this, but pressing flowers is only the first step; you can do a number of things with your pressed bloom!
What can I do with pressed flowers?
Some pressed flower craft ideas include:
Making a scrapbook for them to remind you of those meaningful moments
Making pressed flower art
Framing your pressed flowers
Using the pressed flowers to create and decorate bookmarks
Creating personalised cards
Turning them into jewellery
Decorating a phone case
Turn them into coasters
Any of these options will remind you of your lovely memories!
Which flowers can I press?
Any flower can be pressed, although depending on the type of flower, the placement of the flower for pressing may be different.
Flatter flowers, such as Germini or Alstroemeria, can be placed as they are and directly pressed. Rounder flowers, such as Roses or Carnations, either need to have their petals plucked and pressed, or need to be placed face-down with the petals gently fluffed so they look their best.
How long do pressed flowers last?
According to the Natural History Museum, with appropriate care, pressed plants can last for hundreds of years.
How long does it take to press flowers?
The Natural History Museum also tells us that “Depending on what plant you are pressing and the drying conditions, it can take from just a couple of days to a few weeks for your [flowers] to dry completely.”
How do I press flowers?
There are a few methods for pressing flowers; you can use an iron, a microwave, a book, or a flower press. Below we look at how to press flowers with books, as this requires no special equipment – just some paper, a book, and a bit of patience!
Make sure the flowers you use are clean, dry, and fresh. The sooner the flowers are pressed, the better. However, if you decide to leave them a few days to enjoy them in their prime, make sure to remove any fading petals before pressing.
Open a heavy book, and put two sheets of paper, old card, or newspaper on each of the open pages. Use a book you don’t mind getting a bit messy, as although the paper covering it should absorb the plant’s moisture, there is a small chance it will cause the pages of the book to wrinkle.
Place your flower of choice and/or petals on the paper – when it doubt, place it face down.
Carefully close the book and weigh it down with another heavy book or item to keep it firmly shut.
Leave the flowers undisturbed for 7-10 days, then have a look and see how they're doing. The National History Museum says that “The [flower] is ready once it no longer feels damp. The dried plant may be quite brittle, so be careful when moving it.”
When the flowers are fully dried and ready, carefully remove them. They are now ready for use in whatever format you choose!
If you are looking to press flowers and don’t know which blooms to start with, you can find a variety of beautiful blossoms at bunches.co.uk. We hope you enjoy your flower pressing journey!
