How to Dry Hydrangeas

How to Dry Hydrangeas!

One of the questions that I get asked all the time is how to dry hydrangeas. I love decorating with them, and over the years, I’ve dried quite a few to use in my home. Just about every time they show up in a picture, someone asks me about them, so today, I thought I would share with you how to dry hydrangeas!

It’s very easy to dry and preserve hydrangeas, and in a way, they almost dry themselves. And once they are dry, they can last and look beautiful for years.

Drying hydrangeas can be accomplished in several different ways, and I’m going to show you two methods that I’ve used with success.

The biggest challenge when drying hydrangeas is cutting the blooms at the right time.

If you cut them at their peak, they will have too much moisture and they won’t dry quickly enough to maintain their color and beauty. If you cut them too late, then they will just turn brown.

To be honest, there have been some years that I have failed at getting any of them to dry correctly.

Last summer, my hydrangea bushes didn’t produce very many flowers at all, so I wasn’t able to dry any.

However, the previous year, I dried more than I ever have, and they turned out beautifully. I’ve stored them in a large plastic bin and they can usually be used several seasons if handled carefully.

The best time to cut your hydrangeas for drying is toward the end of the season, which is usually August through October. This is the time of the year when the petals start to fade and change color, but they haven’t turned brown.

One of the methods that I’ve used in drying hydrangeas is the water drying method.

Water drying helps the flowers to retain their color while they are drying. Allowing the flowers to slowly dehydrate helps them to maintain their color and their shape.

Water Drying Method

• Cut each flower with a 12-18″ stem attached, then remove all of the leaves from the stems.
• Place the cut flowers in a vase with fresh water, making sure that the stems are at least half covered with water.
• Place the vase in a cool spot, out of direct sunlight.
• As the water evaporates, DON’T add more water. The water allows your hydrangeas to dry slowly and naturally. Once the water has totally evaporated, your hydrangeas should feel dry to the touch and be ready for display.

There’s another method for drying hydrangeas that I’ve used many times as well, which is the air dry method. Air dried hydrangeas tend to be a bit more brittle than water dried blossoms, but can still be beautiful.

Air Dry Method

• Cut each flower with a 12-18″ stem attached, then remove all of the leaves from stems.
• Tie two to three blooms together with string.
• Hang upside down in a cool dry place for several weeks until dry.

I love decorating with dried hydrangeas, especially in the Fall, but I’ve also used them year round.

I’ve even used them to decorate a Christmas tree!

The dried hydrangeas will usually last a few years before you will need to throw them out, especially if you store them in a large bin when not using.

I hope this has answered some of your questions about how to dry hydrangeas! Let me know if you plan on trying either of these methods!

Cheers, Cindy