How to preserve magnolia blooms?
by Charlotte
+3
I received an answer answer and I appreciated it very much but when I read it it said you could use antifreeze. Looks like antifreeze would eat the bloom up and I don't want to put my hands in that "junk." I am looking for another solution. Is there any way of using wax or some solution less dangerous than antifreeze? Thanks for any help.
Suggested Project Book
No. Use glycerin!
Hi Charlotte, this is Peggy. I hope this is the information you are looking for. How to Preserve Flowers | HowStuffWorks
Hanging The easiest way to preserve flowers is to hang them. Bunch the flowers up around the base of the stems. Hang them upside down in a dark, warm and dry room for one to three weeks. If you're drying several bouquets of flowers, place a fan in the room to circulate the air properly.
Flowers with fat blossom petals like magnolia are hard to dry because the petals turn very dark. Glycerin is a good idea, and silica, too, I understand, but I haven’t looked for bulk silica, the tiny packs of which are in new shoes and purses. Pressing between book leaves probably would not work because of the thickness, but I remember pressing prom corsages after they were mostly air dried.
Hi Charlotte, this article might help with preserving those beautiful magnolia flowers - https://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/article/Preserving-those-beautiful-magnolia-leaves-for-2544612.php
Bulk silica gel crystals for drying flowers is available on eBay.
Definitely use Silica gel. You can buy it at any craft store. Or online. The way I do it is put them in a solo cup make sure the stems are short enough for the whole flower to fit into the cup make sure the leaves are supported enough while you pour the silica gel in it so it supports the petals. Completely cover the top of the cup with a lid of some kind anything really that can see a little little bit so the silica gel doesn’t soak up the moisture in the air. And also the silica gel is reusable and you can recharge it in the sun or in the microwave