How to Dry your Own Flowers: 3 Easy Steps

Did Someone Say FREE Dried Flowers?!

Yep, that's right, we did!

It's easier than you think to dry your own flowers. Whether they're freshly picked from your own garden, your friends garden, your parents or grandparents garden, or a bunch of blooms you were bought/treated yourself to - this guide will show you how you can dry them out in the comfort of your own home.

Before we begin, it's worth noting that our own dried flowers & pampas from here at Pampas & Bloom are sourced from all over the world - I'm sadly not going to be able to guarantee that you'll have the easiest time growing something like Banksia, that are used to the South West Australian climate.

This 3-step guide is for you, however, if you have a lovely lavender bush in your front garden, a hydrangea shrub in your back garden or a special bouquet you'd really like to get the most out of.

It's also worth noting that you can grow some really beautiful blooms & grasses that aren't extremely common but do really well in UK climates.

A good example of this is Lagurus, commonly known as Bunny Tails. Bunny Tails have become so increasingly popular & if you plant them this year, you might have your very own by next summer. You can buy a pack of 200 seeds here.

And here's a funny story, I used to photograph all of our bunches out the front of my parents house last summer, and this year we've had little Lagurus popping up from in between the paving!

Step 1: Choose (or Grow) the Right Stems

A crucial part of drying your own flowers at home is picking the right flower and/or grass stems.

Most flowers are good for drying, but for this simple method we recommend hardy stems such as Lavender, Nigella, Hydrangeas, Achillea, Limonium, Thistles, Poppy Heads & Roses.

Gypsophelia & Eucalyptus are also commonly found in pre-made flower bouquets and dry really well.

You can also grow lots of lovely grasses such as Pampas & Miscanthus that add a soft element to a dried bunch. They grow in bushes & fill space quickly - so be sure to plant away from any paths.

Step 2: Hang in Small Bunches

It's important that when you've harvested your stems, you separate them into smaller bunches. This allows them to air quicker, speeding the process up and avoiding bad smells and mould.

Once you have your smaller bunches, bind them near the bottom of the bunch with twine or an elastic band. Hang them upside down, somewhere cool, dry and out of the way, an airing cupboard would work perfectly. Hanging the bunches upside down ensures the stems dry straight.

If you're feeling fancy, a hanging laundry dryer such as this one works well for stems like Poppy Heads and Thistles.

Step 3: Leave for 2 Weeks

Here's the hardest part of our not-very-hard drying guide, leaving them alone for at least 2 weeks.

It'll be worth the wait - we promise!

How do I Care for Dried Flowers?

If you've grown your own flowers and dried them at home, dried an existing fresh bouquet or bought some ready-made dried flowers from us here at Pampas & Bloom, they all require the same care.

To ensure they last, you'll need to make sure they're kept completely dry, in a cool place out of direct sunlight. You can read our full 5-minute-guide that includes some other tips here.

Dried flowers are completely compostable and can be popped in the appropriate bin (or at the bottom of your garden) when they reach the end of their life. Or if you're not ready to part ways, why not give them a new lease of life with some coloured dyes & sprays or add some new, dried stems into the mix!

And that's it!

Just like that you have your very own bunch of home dried flowers!

If you tried this I'd love to see your results - send us a picture here or tag us on Instagram @pampasandbloom ☺