| Flowers are indispensable for decorations and | | | | the flower lose color until it becomes white. Thus, |
| ornaments. But flowers do wilt and die. | | | | when the artificial color is applied, the new color is |
| Flowers may not be available all year round, but | | | | absorbed faster by the flower. Sodium |
| when you preserve them, as in dried flowers, you | | | | hypochlorite or sodium chlorite is used to |
| have at your disposal a wide array of magnificent | | | | decolorize. |
| cost-effective means of decorating. When you | | | | Fungi can cause flowers to rot and wilt. Air |
| preserve flowers you do not only recycle natural | | | | drying thus entails treating the flower with |
| materials and not only exercise your creative | | | | fungicide. Flowers which are treated and colored |
| juices. With dried flowers you can make the | | | | are then tied with a rubber band and hung upside |
| beauty of flowers available, regardless of season. | | | | down to dry. |
| How do you preserve flowers? Here are some | | | | Compared to air drying, oven drying is a |
| things you should know when it comes to | | | | better but expensive way of preparing dried |
| preparing dried flowers: | | | | flowers. The flower is hung upside down at 40 |
| The first step in preparing dried flowers is to | | | | deg C then at 45 deg C until it is perfectly dry. |
| choose the appropriate materials. Not only should | | | | Clear aerosol is then sprayed to make it more |
| the flowers have aesthetic value, the blossoms | | | | attractive. |
| should also be picked at the right time. Flowers | | | | For roses, orchids and carnations, dry them in |
| should not be picked in the afternoon because | | | | the microwave with a silica gel to hold the flowers |
| they'd be too dry at that time. The best time | | | | in place for three minutes using medium-high heat. |
| would be early morning-just after the dew is | | | | Pressed flowers will look lovelier as the |
| dried. | | | | originals. Before pressing the flower, place it in |
| Once the flower is dried, most of its original | | | | between two sheets of paper or blotting paper |
| color fades away. Thus, coloring is done either to | | | | with the iron set to low heat and pressing down |
| fortify the original color of the flower or to alter | | | | steadily for a few minutes. |
| the original color to suite the required composition. | | | | Remember that the beauty of a dried flower is |
| Coloration of dried flowers can be done by | | | | anchored on how it was prepared. The |
| painting with artificial color, or by color absorption | | | | aforementioned steps may be easy but, when in |
| or by using citric acid. On the other hand, | | | | doubt, it's best to seek the experts. |
| decoloration is done so that the original colors of | | | | |