Flowers that air-dry well include roses and hydrangeas. [2] X Research source Marigolds, lavender, and cornflowers are other great options.

Longer stems are easier to bind. You can always cut the stems after the flowers are dry.

Make sure the flowers are tied tightly enough so that they don’t slip out, but not so tightly that you’re crushing the stems. Crushed stems can stay damp and get moldy.

The flowers will change color as they dry and become less vibrant.

You can also gently spritz the dried flowers with hair spray to make them last even longer and keep from crumbling. Use florist’s foam to keep your flowers even more securely in place.

Some good small flowers to dry include forget-me-not, buttercup, lilac, daisy, heather, sage, viola, and acacia. Some larger flowers to try could include rose, camellia, gardenia, marigold, peony, or hyacinth.

Silica sand can be expensive, but you can reuse it. If you prefer not to use silica sand, you can use kitty litter or even just place the flower on a paper towel. Using only a paper towel, the flower will take longer to dry.

You can dry however many flowers fit in the bowl at the same time, but it may take longer for them all to dry.

The bigger the flower is, the longer it will take to dry. Alternatively, you can leave the flowers covered in silica sand without microwaving them and wait for them to dry naturally.

Microwaving flowers is a shortcut for drying them out, and can sometimes result in inconsistent finishes. However, it is fast and easy.

Some good flowers to preserve with paraffin wax include camellia, gardenia, magnolia, hellebore, tulip, and daffodil. If your flowers are dewy or wet, the wax won’t adhere.

Paraffin wax is extremely flammable, so it’s important to have everything set up before you start heating the wax. You can buy paraffin wax at hardware stores.

You can also use a stainless steel, 1 liter electric cooker on the lowest setting to safely melt wax.

Most projects will need at least 2 pounds (0. 91 kg) of paraffin wax, but you may need up to 5 pounds (2. 3 kg).

Take care not to drip any hot wax on yourself or your counter.

You may need to cool down the water again after a few rounds of flowers.

Flowers will last for several weeks to months using this method. You can also use florist’s foam to keep your arrangements securely in place.

Any hairspray will do. If you don’t have any on hand, the cheapest hairspray you can find will work just fine.

Alternatively, you can arrange stemmed dried flowers in a bouquet for a rustic display. [21] X Research source

Alternatively, create layered or ombre look. Start by filling the jar 1/4 full of flowers in one color, then fill another 1/4 of the jar with another color, and so on until the jar is full.

Try an apothecary jar for a romantic effect.

Go for a single color of flower petals to create a more understated look.

If your display looks a little sparse, fill it in with smaller flowers like baby’s breath.

You can also add a pretty label or decorative stickers to the jar.