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A large, dried pink and yellow dahlia flower with curling petals is displayed on a wooden surface, surrounded by a few scattered purple and pink petals—a beautiful example of what you can achieve when you learn how to dry dahlias properly.
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Yield: 6 Dried Blooms

How to Dry Dahlias with Silica Gel

The most reliable way to dry dahlias so theykeep their full shape and color, using silica gel.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time3 days 35 minutes

Equipment

  • 1 Airtight plastic or glass container At least 2 inches deeper than the bloom1
  •  Small scoop or measuring cup
  • 1 Soft artist's paintbrush
  • 1 Small spatula For archiving blooms out directly once you know where they are settled (optional)
  • 1 Handheld air blower The kind sold for cleaning computer keyboards, for afaster finish (optional)
  • 1 Pair of floral snips
  • 1 Dust mask
  • 1 Pair of gloves

Materials

  • Fresh dahlia blooms cut at three quarters open
  • Silica gel for flower drying indicating type
  • Unscented hairspray or clear floral sealant

Instructions

  • Cut dahlias mid morning, once the dew has dried, choosing blooms that are about three quarters open.
  • Trim each stem to one inch below the flower head.
  • Pour a one inch bed of silica gel into the bottom of the container.
  • Set the blooms face up on the bed, not touching one another.
  • Spoon silica gel slowly around and over each bloom, working from the outside toward the center so the crystals sift between the petals and support them.
  • Cover the blooms with at least one inch of silica gel. Do not press down.
  • Seal the container, label it with the date, and store somewhere cool and dark. Check at two days for smaller blooms and three days for larger ones. Do not leave them much longer than that, since extra time past this window is what causes petals to over-dry and shatter.
  • Excavate the blooms by pouring the silica off slowly, digging gently with a small spatula, or clearing crystals with a handheld air blower on its lowest setting, then finish by brushing any remaining crystals from between the petals with a soft brush.
  • Mist lightly with hairspray or floral sealant from about ten inches away and let dry.

Notes

  • Recharge saturated silica gel by baking it at 250°F for one hour, until the crystals return to blue.
  • Wear a dust mask and gloves while handling silica gel.