Iris flowers are renowned for their elegant, intricate blooms in shades of purple, blue, yellow, pink and white. Their satiny petals and bright colors make them a favorite in many gardens. As with all flowers, iris blooms are fleeting. But you can preserve these lovely blossoms by drying them at home. With just a few simple steps and materials, you can enjoy their beauty all year round.
Why Dry Iris Flowers
Drying allows you to keep iris blooms intact long after the growing season ends. The drying process removes moisture from the plant material, stopping decay and preserving the colors and shape of the flowers. Dried iris flowers make lovely additions to floral arrangements and craft projects. They add texture and whimsy to wreaths, garlands and potpourri. Their subtle fragrance lingers even when dried. Preserving your garden irises is also sentimental, allowing you to enjoy the results of your gardening efforts for years to come.
When to Harvest Iris Flowers for Drying
For the best results, harvest iris blooms when they are in peak condition Look for flowers that have fully opened, displaying their ruffled “flags” or petals. The colors will be richest when the blossoms are mature Harvest in the morning after the dew has evaporated for optimum freshness. Carefully cut the stems just above the foliage using pruners or garden scissors.
How to Dry Iris Flowers
Air drying is the easiest method for preserving iris blooms. Simply gather 5-10 flowers and tie the stems together with twine or a rubber band. Hang the bouquet upside down in a warm, dry spot out of direct light. Attics, pantries and closets work well. You can also lay the tied bouquet on its side on a screen, cake rack or windowsill.
Check the flowers after a week or two. When thoroughly dry, the petals will feel papery and the stems brittle. If moisture remains, re-hang until completely dry. The drying time depends on factors like humidity, air circulation and the size of the blooms. Smaller varieties may dry in as little as 5-7 days. Larger blossoms can take two weeks or longer.
Optional Steps for Better Results
Here are some optional tips for getting the best results when drying iris flowers
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Strip the foliage from the lower half of the stems so none remains in the dried bouquet. The leaves will rot and cause the flowers to deteriorate.
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Consider cutting the stems to various lengths so the bloom heads are offset. This prevents crowding.
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For sturdier stems, place them in a vase without water for 2-3 days before hanging upside down to dry.
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Use glycerin to help preserve suppleness and color. Mix one part glycerin and two parts warm water. Soak the stems overnight before drying.
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Spray with a fixative like floral spray paint or clear acrylic sealer once dried. This seals in the colors.
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Add a desiccant like silica sand, borax or cornmeal to the storage container to absorb lingering moisture.
Storing Dried Iris Blooms
For long-term storage, place the dried iris flowers in an airtight container out of sunlight. Glass jars, tins and boxes all work well. Add a desiccant and seal. The cool, dark conditions will help the blossoms retain their beauty for 1-3 years. To use in arrangements, cut the stems and place in floral foam or a vase of sand. Handle the blooms gently to avoid breaking the dry petals. With proper harvesting, drying and storage methods, you can enjoy the elegance of iris flowers year after year.
Common Problems When Drying Irises
Drying iris blossoms does require some patience and finesse. Here are some common problems to watch out for:
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Moldy or shriveled petals – This can occur if flowers are not dried quickly enough. Ensure adequate air circulation and dry in a warm spot. Discard any rotting flowers immediately.
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Faded colors – To retain vivid coloring dry away from direct light. If blooms do fade, use floral spray to seal in remaining pigment after drying.
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Brittle petals – Flowers dried too fast may become crisp and shatter easily. Slow the drying process by placing blossoms in a bag with holes for a day or two before hanging.
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Drooping flowers – Cut stems to varied lengths and dry in small bunches for the best posture. Soaking in glycerin solution also helps stiffen stems.
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Crumbling petals – Once dried, handle iris blossoms gently. To revive brittle flowers, spray lightly with water and re-dry.
Enjoying Iris Blooms Year After Year
With their stunning colors and unique forms, iris blooms are too beautiful to only enjoy for a few short weeks. By harvesting at peak freshness and drying them with care, you can save your prized flowers for years of pleasure. Experiment with different techniques until you find a process that works well in your climate. Take time to appreciate the subtle differences in each iris variety before drying. Follow these steps for成功地保留鸢尾花色彩的秘诀 drying irises, and you’ll be rewarded with lasting mementos from your garden.
Drying with silica gel, pressing flowers, hanging, and microwaving
Drying and preserving with flowers—and crafting with flora—has a long history, both symbolic and practical. Now that we’re inside, let’s fill the big flower void by learning four ways to dry and store flowers, as well as what the heck to do with them!
Keeping flowers alive and turning them into works of art out of dried flowers has been done for a long time. Some of the things that Egyptians used to embalm bodies were amulets, dried berries, seeds, wreaths, and lotus flowers, which were written in hieroglyphics and showed what time of year the person was buried. Ancient Romans celebrated citizens with garlands of bay laurel leaf—the greens serving as symbolic crowns. Still today, we honor family and friends who have died by sending flowers. Flowers have been there for people through the most important times in their lives and, some believe, even into the afterlife.
Oshibana is a Japanese art form that involves making pictures with pressed flowers and plants. During the 1600s, traders brought the art and craft to Europe. It was popular in the Victorian era and has since spread to the United States, where pressed flower art is making a comeback.
Dried flowers and cards at an oshibana (dried flower art) workshop in Osaka, Japan
It might be easier to say what not to make with dried flowers! Once you know what flowers dry well and some simple ways to keep them alive, you can let your imagination run wild!
I choose which drying method to use based on how the flowers will be used in the craft I am planning.
Feel free to use these creative ideas to enjoy dried flowers and make a keepsake that will make your home and heart happy:
- flower crowns and wedding bouquets
- floral wreaths, grapevine wreaths
- pumpkin décor
- shadow boxes, wall hangings
- soap ingredients
- candle decor, candle votives
- pressed flower cards, handmade paper, pressed flower initials
- jewelry, potpourri and more!
Here are tips on when to harvest if you grow your own flowers or pick wildflowers. The same applies if you choose to purchase flowers from a florist or store.
- Check the flowers to make sure they are healthy and free of bugs. Stay away from flowers that have powdery mildew or spots on them.
- Before the flowers are fully grown, pick them because they are easier to work with.
- Pick your flowers first thing in the morning, after any dew has dried off. You want to keep as little water as possible on the flowers.
- Cut flowers with sharp shears.
- Remove the lower leaves from the flower stem. Hold the stem right below the flower head in one hand and gently pull off the leaves with the other hand.
- Because the stems will shrink as they dry, we like to gather flowers in small groups held together with rubber bands.
Iris Care After Flowering
FAQ
How do you preserve iris blooms?
How to dry flowers and keep their color?
How do you make iris flowers last longer?
How do you care for iris rhizomes?
Tidy up any spent leaves. New leaves emerge from the center of the fan. The leaves on the outer edge dry up with age. Trim them off to keep the fresh new sword-like fan of leaves looking their best. Divide your Irises every 3 to 5 years. With age, Iris rhizomes get crowded and entangled and they won’t bloom as well.
How do you keep irises from dying?
Trim the stalk in line with the upright fan of leaves. This is the best way to disguise the stalk. Tidy up any spent leaves. New leaves emerge from the center of the fan. The leaves on the outer edge dry up with age. Trim them off to keep the fresh new sword-like fan of leaves looking their best. Divide your Irises every 3 to 5 years.
How to keep Iris over the winter?
Before we look at how to keep iris over the winter, we need to make sure that it is understood that we are talking about storing iris rhizomes in this article. Irises that grow from rhizomes typically have flat, sword-shaped leaves. Proper iris rhizomes storage starts with making sure that the iris rhizomes have been properly dried.
How do you care for irises in summer?
Next, suitable summer care of Irises helps the plant prepare for an excellent flower show next spring. Lastly, correct Iris care will keep the plant healthy and pest and disease free. After Irises have finished blooming their stalk will remain with dried, spent flowers at the top of the stalk. Remove the entire stalk.
How do you store iris rhizomes?
Leave the iris rhizomes there for one to two weeks. After the iris rhizomes have cured, coat them in powdered sulfur or other anti-fungal powder. This will help prevent rot from setting in on the rhizomes. The last step in storing iris rhizomes is to wrap each rhizome in a piece of newspaper and place in a box. Put the box in a cool, dry place.
How do you know if irises have finished flowering?
Cut the flower stalks of faded irises, keeping the leaves to photosynthesize and store energy for future blooms. If irises have finished flowering and the faded petals (and maybe some of their leaves) are turning brown, this is probably an indication that their reproductive cycle is complete.