How do you preserve flowers? Here are some things you should know when it comes to preparing dried flowers:

• The first step in preparing dried flowers is to choose the appropriate materials. Not only should the flowers have aesthetic value, the blossoms should also be picked at the right time. Flowers should not be picked in the afternoon because they’d be too dry at that time. The best time would be early morning-just after the dew is dried.

• Once the flower is dried, most of its original color fades away. Thus, coloring is done either to fortify the original color of the flower or to alter the original color to suite the required composition. Coloration of dried flowers can be done by painting with artificial color, or by color absorption or by using citric acid. On the other hand, decoloration is done so that the original colors of the flower lose color until it becomes white. Thus, when the artificial color is applied, the new color is absorbed faster by the flower. Sodium hypochlorite or sodium chlorite is used to decolorize.

• Fungi can cause flowers to rot and wilt. Air drying thus entails treating the flower with fungicide. Flowers which are treated and colored are then tied with a rubber band and hung upside down to dry.

• Compared to air drying, oven drying is a better but expensive way of preparing dried flowers. The flower is hung upside down at 40 deg C then at 45 deg C until it is perfectly dry. Clear aerosol is then sprayed to make it more attractive.

• For roses, orchids and carnations, dry them in the microwave with a silica gel to hold the flowers in place for three minutes using medium-high heat.

• Pressed flowers will look lovelier as the originals. Before pressing the flower, place it in between two sheets of paper or blotting paper with the iron set to low heat and pressing down steadily for a few minutes.

Remember that the beauty of a dried flower is anchored on how it was prepared. The aforementioned steps may be easy but, when in doubt, it’s best to seek the experts.

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Go on. Indulge yourself in dried flowers and see beauty last for a lifetime.

Next, prepare the vase and the water. Kill any bacteria or algae that formed in the vase by cleaning the inside with bleach. If your florist does not include preservatives with the flower delivery, fill the vase with lukewarm water and add a floral preservative. You can either buy preservatives from your florist or make on your own. To make your own preservatives, mix lemon with a very small amount of bleach, or a teaspoon of sugar with a few drops of bleach. Take note that using homemade concoctions might not be as effective as professional cut flower food because they don’t contain the complex mixture of preservatives and nutrients flowers need to survive.

Before putting the flowers in the vase, remove all the leaves that might be submerged in the water. Leaves have the tendency to decay when submerged underwater and when these leaves rot, they poison the water and shorten the vase life of your flowers. Arrange the flowers in any way you desire, but make sure you do not overcrowd the vase. If the bouquet is too large or the arrangement seems too tight, divide them into two and place them in separate vases.

Once you’re satisfied with your floral arrangement, keep the vase in a cool spot away from direct sunlight to avoid rapid respiration. Respiration is the process wherein living organisms age. It is helpful to note that flowers generally have a higher respiration rate than most agricultural crop. The lower the temperature of the room they are placed in, the longer the flowers will last. However, if the flowers are subjected to temperatures below four degrees, their internal cells can get easily damaged and dry out the flowers. If you want your bouquet to decorate an air-conditioned room, make sure the temperature is not too cold.

Finally, take care of your flowers every day and remove wilted flowers so they do not contaminate the rest. It is recommended that you change the water daily but if you are too busy to do so, replacing the water every two or three days is fine. Make sure you add the preservative each time you change the water. You can also re-cut the stem for improved water absorption.

How do you preserve flowers? Here are some things you should know when it comes to preparing dried flowers:

• The first step in preparing dried flowers is to choose the appropriate materials. Not only should the flowers have aesthetic value, the blossoms should also be picked at the right time. Flowers should not be picked in the afternoon because they’d be too dry at that time. The best time would be early morning-just after the dew is dried.

• Once the flower is dried, most of its original color fades away. Thus, coloring is done either to fortify the original color of the flower or to alter the original color to suite the required composition. Coloration of dried flowers can be done by painting with artificial color, or by color absorption or by using citric acid. On the other hand, decoloration is done so that the original colors of the flower lose color until it becomes white. Thus, when the artificial color is applied, the new color is absorbed faster by the flower. Sodium hypochlorite or sodium chlorite is used to decolorize.

• Fungi can cause flowers to rot and wilt. Air drying thus entails treating the flower with fungicide. Flowers which are treated and colored are then tied with a rubber band and hung upside down to dry.

• Compared to air drying, oven drying is a better but expensive way of preparing dried flowers. The flower is hung upside down at 40 deg C then at 45 deg C until it is perfectly dry. Clear aerosol is then sprayed to make it more attractive.

• For roses, orchids and carnations, dry them in the microwave with a silica gel to hold the flowers in place for three minutes using medium-high heat.

• Pressed flowers will look lovelier as the originals. Before pressing the flower, place it in between two sheets of paper or blotting paper with the iron set to low heat and pressing down steadily for a few minutes.

Things you can do with dried flowers by the uses of flowers are seemingly endless. They can be used to decorate in all aspects of beautification such as; housing, school, wedding, programs, floral arrangements, and lots more.

Detailed uses of dried flowers include many ways as stationery, picture frames paper weight, lampshade, flower arrangement, candle decoration and window decor

Stationery. You’ve to use a quality paper. Apply a thin layer of glue onto the paper and attach the dried flowers based on your design and arrangement or layout especially for cards, envelopes, and other stationery you desired.

Picture frames. With the use of a brush dipped in glue, attach flowers to an unusual paper until they’re dried. When totally dried up, you can now form the picture frame in any design you want.

Paper weight. Using two pieces of glass, stones, woods, or plastics, cut them to your desired size and position the flowers on the bottom and secure them with the glue. Once the glue is dry, place the pieces of glass, stones, woods, or plastics in position.

Lampshade. To decorate your lampshade, attach the flowers with the use of a glue. Before the glue dries up, place a semi-transparent rice paper over the lampshade and pat a layer of diluted glue over the paper.

Flower arrangement. With the use of a rubber band, fasten them and wrap with a brown craft paper and secured with a twine. Your finished flower arrangement can used as your centerpiece or simply hang them from your door.

Candle decoration. Using a glue, apply them at the back side of each flower, press them gently onto the candle. To firmly lay them on the candle, wrap them with a waxed paper and hold fix with a tape to hold them in place.

Window decor. Decorate your curtains with dried flowers on the corners of the curtain rods. Choose the ones that go with the style and match the color of your interior design.

Flowers are indispensable for decorations and ornaments and remember that the beauty of a dried flower is anchored on how it was prepared. The aforementioned ideas may be easy but, when in doubt, it’s best to seek the experts.

Dried lavender and the scent of lavender have long been associated with linen cupboards and laundry. This is because lavender contains a natural insect repellent which helps to keep moths and other unwanted lodgers at bay, such as ants and silverfish (and probably cockroaches, at least to some extent). Lavender smells much nicer on clothes than mothballs by a long chalk. It may also be used in the vacuum cleaner to prevent the bad smell of dust when doing the domestic cleaning.

Most people associate dried lavender flowers in the home with dried flower arrangements and potpourri. If you want it for the scent rather than for the looks, the old-fashioned pot-pourri bowl is best. Stirring the dried flowerheads of the lavender releases the scent. If the lavender gets a bit old and tired and loses its scent, replace it with fresh lavender or else add a few drops of lavender essential oil to recharge the scent.

Lavender bags are another traditional way of keeping your linens (and all your other clothes) smelling fresh and for keeping insects away. This allows the scent of lavender to get into the clothing in your drawer, but the dried flower heads don’t break off, leaving you with itchy dried bits in your knickers. You can buy ready-made lavender bags at gift shops and the like. These are usually made from delicate floral cotton lawn and trimmed with lace and ribbon, but this fabric choice doesn’t affect the scent. A hanky tied shut with a rubber band or a bit of string does just as good a job, and there’s no rule engraved in stone saying that you can’t make a lavender bag out of camo print tied shut with thin rope (now there’s an unexploited market niche…). If you put some lavender bags in your wardrobe will make your room smell fresh and like it’s just been cleaned by your house cleaner.

A lavender bag can be used as a bath bag. Drop one in your bath. This can only be used once or twice. If you want to make a larger lavender bag, you can use it as a cushion. The scent will be released when it is sat on.

Bunches of dried lavender kept in one piece by bits of string or ribbon are best kept for sheets and pillowcases, as these get shaken out before use and so the problem of little bits getting stuck and itching you is less of a problem. Tuck these bunches of lavender into piles of sheets at regular intervals and move the periodically as the sheets get used. Make sure the lavender is dried before you put it into the sheets – dry stuff might go off or get odd smears on your best white Egyptian cottons.

Lavender bottles are a fancier variation on the bunches that have slightly less likelihood of shedding bits. To make a lavender bottle, get a bunch of fresh lavender and tie them tightly together just below the flower head. Then bend the stalks down so they enclose the flowers in a sort of cage. Tie the stems down below the flower head just below where you tied them at first, and then tie them together again at the ends. It looks a bit like a very long-necked bottle; hence the name.

Lavender bunches and bottles can also be kept in kitchen cupboards to deter ants and the like. It’s best to store them in dried goods that won’t get too badly affected by the scent/taste of lavender. A good suggestion that doesn’t leave you with lavender-flavoured salt or beans is to put the bunches on the shelf or in the cupboard between the boxes, containers and bags of dry goods, which should put the ants and silverfish off before they find their way into your flour.

One reason for having flowers delivered would be to cheer as person up in the hospital. This can brighten up the day of a sick relative or friend. Some hospitals do offer a florist gift shop in the lobby or order from an online or local florist. Another good reason for having flowers delivered would be to a Husband, wife, girlfriend or boyfriend. Maybe it is a special occasion, like an anniversary our just a caring gesture. Flowers can also be sent to family members on special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and maybe to say thank you.

Arrangements can be sent to weddings, receptions and other marital celebrations. Some businesses only cater to weddings and handle all the floral arrangements and delivery. The birth of a baby can call for another type of delivery. Once again, most times there will be a florist in the hospitals lobby or the flowers can be ordered online or locally. The final reason to have flowers delivered would be to a funeral. Most will order a wreath for the grave site and this can be done online or locally.

The most common flowers sent to a husband, wife, girlfriend or boyfriend would be the rose. Roses come in many different colors and sizes. The long-stemmed red rose is the most romantic delivered flower and the most common. Some other colors of roses to choose from are the pink, yellow, white, peach or even a black rose.

The most common flower arrangements delivered to sick people in the hospitals tend to be an assortment of flowers. Some will purchase a potted plant with decorations. Others will purchase an elaborate bouquet. For weddings any flower can be used for table decoration most of the time in soft colors. Most will order the brides bouquet and grooms corsage from the same florist. When sending flowers to family, the most common flowers would be in the form of a bouquet or potted plants. The birth of a baby calls for huge flower displays with balloons. Many will purchase potted plants as well as large colorful bouquets. For funerals, the most common flower arrangement would be the wreath for the service.