How do you dry Hydrangeas? I just started growing them in my flower garden and would like to learn how to dry them?

I just started growing them in my flower garden and would like to learn how to dry them. Asked by cooker201 55 months ago Similar questions: dry Hydrangeas started growing flower garden learn Home.

Similar questions: dry Hydrangeas started growing flower garden learn.

Here's how DRYING HYDRANGEAS NATURALLY The secret to perfectly dried hydrangeas is choosing the right time to harvest them. This is far more important than the method one uses. While it is tempting to cut the hydrangea blossoms for drying at the height of their color, this seldom, if ever, works.

Fresh, recently opened blooms, rarely dry well in the open air. Hydrangeas do best when allowed to dry a bit on the plant before picking. Experiment with harvesting from August through October.In the south, hydrangeas usually age to a green color and then pick up shades of pink.

In the cooler areas of the world, they seem to age to shades of blue and purple. They are both equally beautiful to me, but very different. I like to purchase a few bunches on Ebay occasionally from gardeners who grow hydrangeas in cooler climates, just to enjoy the variety of colors.

TIPS__Leave blooms on the shrub until late summer. Toward the end of the summer the petals will begin to age and take on a vintage look. If left on the shrub a while longer, many blooms will pick up interesting shades of burgundy and pink.

The timing for cooler areas may be much different from this. I'd like to hear feedback from those whose drying experience is different. __One can cut the blooms, strip off the leaves, arrange them in a vase, with or without water, and leave them to dry.

It is not necessary to hang hydrangeas up side down to dry unless the stems are very thin and weak. __To retain extremely natural hydrangea color, use Silica Gel to dry fresh blooms. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------COLORING AND DECORATING WITH HYDRANGEASDyeing Hydrangeas with Ritz DyeOne method of coloring hydrangeas is with Ritz Dye, which can produce either deep or light shades.

The basket to the left is filled with hydrangeas dyed in different shades of rose pink. Go to a description of this technique with pictures. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A TIP FOR MAKING WREATHS FROM DRIED FLOWERSI received an excellent tip from Barbara Kleppe.

She says "If you want to make wreaths out of your dried hydrangeas, before attaching them to a straw or foam wreath form with wire pins, immerse the flower heads in warm water for about 15 minutes. The flowers become pliable so that they can then be torn apart to the right size and attached to the wreath with little or no breakage. I leave the flowers in the water while I am working.

The completed wreath must be dried again -- it takes about a day -- and afterward you have a lovely 'dried' wreath! This procedure eliminates, almost totally, breakage and loss of beautiful hydrangea blooms. Incidently, you can use this method for other dried flowers as well.

The results are striking! " I bet they are! Thanks for that tip, Barbara.

DECORATING WITH HYDRANGEAS AT CHRISTMAS Stunning Christmas tree ornaments, wreaths, and arrangements can be made with Hydrangeas. Leave bloom heads natural or spray them gold or silver or (believe it or not) red. We have found that "gaudy" red blooms can make some of the most stunning displays.

In arrangements, combine with fresh ivy, nandina berries and holly. On the tree, one can use a gold bow with each hydrangea head. Email me with any ideas you have for decorating with hydrangeas.

I'll try to put them onto this website so others can benefit from them. I would especially like to get any pictures you might have of your creations! Sources: http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/dryingnat.html .

Easy I've just cut them at their peak and hung them upside down until they are dried. I usually spray mine with a light sealer or polyurethane.

Very easy... I just cut them and put them in a vase and let them dry. Unlike many other flowers, their petals don't fall off they just dry. After they are dried, I have tried spraying them with hairspray (on a recommendation from a friend).

I didn't notice any difference. But they lasted quite some time, until they got dusty. Don't try dusting them...dumb idea... Have fun!

Sources: Personal Experience .

1 Maroongirl, regarding your answer "Here's how": Thanks for the great information. It was a big help. I plan to follow your advice and wait till later in the summer to start drying my hydrangeas.

Thanks again. Cooker201 .

Maroongirl, regarding your answer "Here's how": Thanks for the great information. It was a big help. I plan to follow your advice and wait till later in the summer to start drying my hydrangeas.

Thanks again. Cooker201.

The garden shop said to use aluminum sulfate.

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