| Roses are undoubtedly one of the near-perfect | | | | in a dark and dry corner, till dry. |
| creations of nature. They adorn homes, gardens | | | | The other rose drying technique is the sand |
| and landscapes with beauty, elegance and grace | | | | drying process. It takes a little more effort but |
| as no other thing can do. Yet being a living thing, | | | | works wonderfully. Take a rose when it is in full |
| the lie of a rose is not immortal! | | | | shape and form. Cut the stem leaving about an |
| Yet if you so desire, you can let the charm carry | | | | inch. Make sure that the stem, leaves and flower |
| on ! By using the drying process, you can make | | | | are really dry and free from dew or any other |
| the rose live again. And this process is simple and | | | | water. take a wire and insert it through the stem |
| not very expensive. Dried roses are as handsome | | | | till it reaches the head. Take a deep box and fill it |
| as they looked when they were in full bloom. | | | | up with white sand to a height when the rose can |
| Rose Drying Techniques | | | | stand upright in the box. |
| The two most common processes for rose | | | | Next hold the rose stand in to the box and start |
| drying are air drying and sand drying. Of the two, | | | | filling it up first to cover the base, then the stem |
| air drying is easier and requires only a good and | | | | and then the petals slowly. The whole idea is to |
| clean pair of shears, some wire, a coat hanger | | | | retain the original shape and form of the flower. |
| and a dark dry location. Start by cutting the stem | | | | Go on covering the whole flower with san till you |
| of the rose, as close to the head of the rose as | | | | can no longer see the flower. Then put the sand |
| possible. Then insert a wire which is about 6 to 8 | | | | and rose filled box in a dark and dry place and |
| inches long into the rose head. | | | | leave it for 1 to 3 weeks to dry completely. You |
| Now the drying process starts. Roses need to | | | | have to be very careful while removing the |
| dry in an upside down position. Tie one end of the | | | | flower from its sand box. . Tip the box gradually |
| wire on to a hanger. You can tie many such roses | | | | to remove the sand and empty the box. Clutch |
| upside down on the hanger. Just leave some | | | | each rose as it becomes sand free. |
| space between the roses for air to circulate. Then | | | | Wax, glycerin or a desiccant are also used for |
| put the hanger in a dark and dry place - an | | | | rose drying but these processes are a bit lengthy. |
| unused closet can be an ideal location. Roses need | | | | A popular way to dry roses is to place it between |
| typically 1 to 3 weeks to dry. | | | | the pages of a fat book. |
| You can also hand many roses upside down from | | | | There are many uses of dried roses. From being |
| a nail. Do not cut off the stems in this case, | | | | part of a floral arrangement, decorative wreaths, |
| merely remove the leaves which are at the | | | | bouquets for weddings and framed artwork. Dried |
| bottom. Then hold the bunch of roses together, | | | | rose petals make good potpourri as well as |
| tie the stems with an elastic band, and hang them | | | | confetti ! |