Instructions for Traditional Air Drying Method:

Remove the lowest leaves from a stems. Cut the stems to even lengths and sort them out according to thickness.

To avoid crushing, do not put to much herbs or flowers in a bunch. Using a rubber band, bind the bottom ends together.

Once you have cut the stems, it is very important to remove them from the sunlight as soon as possible.

Stretch a chain across a room just below the ceiling. (Plant materials hooked through a chain link won't slip as they might on a slick wire).

Hang the flowers and herbs upside down in an airy, dry, warm and dark place such as well-ventilated attics, garages or large closets. Drying flowers in the dark is the most important factor in maintaining good color. Be sure to supply good air circulation to prevent mold and speed drying. Orange, blue and pink flowers will retain the best color when dried.

Whole rosebuds can be hang upside down in bunches of five to six roses with leaves intact in a warm airy place to dry. Strips the lowest leaves from the stalks before tie them in bunches.

It takes between one to three weeks for flowers to dry. The length of the drying period will vary, depending on the temperature and humidity. Herbs need between one to two weeks to dry. Check the plants every few days, because if they remain in drying area to long, they my become to dry for use. Dried materials should feel papery and firm, not limp or damp. Many garden herbs and flowers dry extremely well.

Store your dried materials in covered boxes, airtight containers or in brown paper bags. Keep flower and herb groups separate and be sure to label these containers. Transfer prepared materials to a cooler location that remains dry and dark.

To dry plants and flowers of which are heavier than their stems (for example straw flowers, chrysanthemums etc.) use the plastic plant trays found at hardware stores or greenhouses. Position the trays so their bottom surfaces are several inches above the floor and drop the flower stems into the holes. The flower heads, which won't fit through the holes, will dry in an open position.

Another method for flowers with weak stems is florist's wire insert. Cut the plant stem off, cca 1/2-inch below the flower and insert floral wire up through the remaining stem and out through the center of the flower. Make a hook at the top of the wire, and pull it back down into the flower, but not all the way through. The stem will shrink and dry tightly around the wire. Once the flower is dry, wrap floral tape around the stem and wire.

To dry flower heads just spread them on sheets of newspaper and leave them in a warm airy place to dry completely.

Use clothes-drying racks to dry short-stemmed herbs, bundle them and hang them on racks.

The dried material will have a natural fragrance but this will soon fade if you do not use a fixative. Orris root is one of the best for pot pourri, but you can also use other spices such as cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg, cloves, orange peel, lemon peel or sea salt.

Essential oils are another vital fixative which will add depth and intensity of fragrance to your dried material. Avoid contact with hands because oil has a very strong perfume. Store the oils in the glass bottles, never in plastic bottles. Use one drop at a time because if you use to much it will upset the real fragrance.

Other Methods to Preserve Plants and Related Links:

Drying Flowers in the Microwave Oven

Drying with Silica Gel

Glycerizing Method

Drying with Other Desiccants

Birdhouse Arrangement

Red Roses Basket

Country Window Basket

Christmas Arch

How to Make Streamer Bow

How to Make Loopy Bow