Dried hydrangeas are beautiful in Fall decor and today I’m going to show you how to dry them!
One of the questions that I get asked all of 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 tried and true ways on how to dry hydrangeas!
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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, with just a little bit of care.
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 an ugly brown, which is definitely not what you want.
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.
Every year when I’ve finished decorating with them, I store them in a large plastic tub with a lid. If handled carefully, they can usually be used for several seasons.
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 yet.
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.
via giftflowers
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.
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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 very beautiful.
via charlieandjo.com
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.
Fall is the perfect time to decorate with dried hydrangeas, 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.
Of course, if you want to skip the process of drying or don’t have access to hydrangeas to dry, you can find many sites that offer faux hydrangeas to get the same look!
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! I would love to hear how they work for you!
Cheers, Cindy
Cindy, the best dried ones I ever had was an accident. I had gone to N.C. from Florida and the bed and breakfast where I stayed had many blooms all over the yard. Whd I left my host allowed me to cut a bunch to bring home to Florida. I was only there for 4 days so my suitcase was small and in the back seat of the car. I put the blooms in the trunk and forgot them for about a week. They were completely dry. I used those for about 7 years. The best ones I ever dried.
Love your blog! Thanks for the hydrangeas drying tips. Unrelated, where did you find the fabric for your toile blinds? Lovely!
Thanks and wish you a full surgery recovery. I also had lower spine surgery and it was a god sent.
Hi Carol! The fabric is from Hobby Lobby. Sadly, it’s no longer available.
Yours are gorgeous. We only get pink, green and white here where I live because of the soil Ph. I have contemplated trying to dye them using the water method, and adding food coloring, but I have never tried it. My grandmother who lived in Eastern Ohio on the West Virginia border had two bushes that were taller than me and had the most beautiful blue blooms every summer…oh how I wish I could get my blue. I’ve probably tried every chemical known to man to try to get the Ph to change, but no luck. I’ll just have to covet yours from afar♥️
Hi Cindy. I am so, so happy to hear that your surgery was a success. I have a problem with my lower back and lots of pain. I have been avoiding surgery, but it seems that is my only solution now. It’s encouraging to hear from others that have had it and have had success with surgery.. I look forward to your posts. Your blog is one of my favorites. Blessings
Hi Nazaria! I’m so sorry you’re having back pain! It can be so debilitating and completely take over your life! I too, didn’t want to have surgery, but I’m so glad that I went ahead and had it. I woke up from surgery pain free! I had forgotten what it was like to not live with pain every day. I will keep you in my prayers!
Hi Cindy. I also use the water drying method and am doing it as we speak. I have a woman statue/vase. She has quite the hairdo. lol Thank you so much for updating us on your operation. Thank God our/your prayers were answered. You do what you need to do, and we will wait patiently for your next post. Love and hugs, Cindy
Thank you so much, Cindy! I’m getting better each and every day!
Hi, Cindy! I love hydrangeas and I did not know about the water drying method- I am going to try it this year. I didn’t know about your surgery, but I am so glad to hear that you are feeling so much better. I have missed seeing your posts and love your decorating style.
Thank you so much, Lurlie! I’m trying to get back into the swing of things!
Oh, I love hydrangeas! My mom has a hydrangea bush and I had already told her I wanted to dry some of them this year. Glad I read your post; I’m going to try the water method!
Thanks 😉
– Cherelle
Thank you for sharing!! I absolutely LOVE hydrangeas! One of my favorite flowers and I plan to use your ideas this year!! 🙂
Appreciate this tip. Thanks, Cindy!
Another option after drying them, is to spray paint them any color!!!! Beautiful!!!
I have used the water method. I also learned from a master Gardner, that the trick is to cut them at the right time. I was told that when you feel the top of the flower it should feel like leather. You are correct about waiting until August thru October.
Thank you so much for your tip, Diane!
This is the first time I have had hydrangeas. I ended up using the water drying method without even realizing it. The first time I made an arrangement I forgot to give them more water and they dried. Bonus! I missed the boat on my blue ones though. I have cream and green this year.
They last for a few years, and I love decorating with them all year long. Thanks for commenting, Nancy!
I am new at this so I started to cut the stem above the last blossom put the in threes per bucket with some sand and lightly water before storing in a greenhouse for the winter.In the spring put them outside and started growing hydrangeas in to tree’s . great sucess but running out of space and plan to sell online with a friend .
Great blog on drying hydrangas. Love your decorating skills and blog always.
Thank you so much, Debbie!
Cindy
I have always used the water drying method. I learned it years ago from a master gardener. I think it is the best method.
That’s my favorite as well, Diane! Thank you for commenting!
Bonjour Cindy, je ne savais pas que vous aviez eu cette opération et je suis ravie que tout se soit bien passé pour vous. Vos Hydrangeas séchés sont superbes!… Amicalement, Catherine
Merci beaucoup, Catherine!