How to Preserve Flowers: From Bouquets to Keepsakes

How do you preserve flowers so they last? Remove moisture quickly while keeping shape and color intact. Popular methods include air drying, pressing, silica gel, microwave drying, and resin for 3D keepsakes. Choose the method based on whether you want flat art or long-lasting décor. From wedding bouquets to pressed art and resin keepsakes, this guide covers the best ways to preserve flowers so they last for years. Whether you want to preserve flowers at home or work with a professional, you’ll find the best methods here.

Quick Answer: How Do You Preserve Flowers?

Quick Answer: Preserve flowers by removing moisture while keeping their shape and color using air drying, silica gel, pressing, microwave drying, or embedding in resin.

To preserve flowers so they last for years:

1. Remove moisture while maintaining shape and color.
2. Use air drying, silica gel, pressing, microwave drying, or resin.
3. Choose the method based on whether you want flat art or 3D keepsakes.

What Is the Best Way to Preserve Flowers?

The best way to preserve flowers is silica gel drying because it removes moisture quickly while keeping color and shape intact.

The best way to preserve flowers depends on your goal:

• Best overall: Silica gel (best color + shape)
• Easiest: Air drying
• Best for art: Pressing flowers
• Best for keepsakes: Resin preservation

For most people wanting long-lasting flowers that still look fresh, silica gel drying is the best way to preserve flowers.

Quick guide:

• 👉 Want framed art? → Pressing
• 👉 Want the bouquet shape? → Silica gel
• 👉 Want décor fast? → Air drying
• 👉 Want jewelry or keepsakes? → Resin

Flowers are magical: they mark moments, color our celebrations, and hold memories. When you fall in love with a bouquet (especially your wedding flowers), the idea of keeping them forever is irresistible. But how do you actually preserve flowers so they last? Let’s walk through every method worth your time, with clear steps, pro tips, and creative ideas you’ll actually love.

How Flower Preservation Works

Fresh flowers are mostly water. To preserve them, you need to remove or replace that moisture while keeping shape and color. Some methods keep blooms flat (like pressing), others keep them three-dimensional (like silica gel or resin). Which one you choose depends on your goal: framed art? Wedding keepsake? Jewelry? Home décor?

Below, we go step-by-step through the best ways to preserve flowers from easy DIYs to decorative keepsakes, plus tips to avoid common mistakes. Let’s get started!

Choose Fresh Flowers for Best Results

Timing is everything. Start preserving within a day or two after your event before blooms begin wilting. Flowers with stronger petals and stems hold up better (roses, eucalyptus, lavender), while delicate petals may be better for pressing.

Pro tip: If you want to preserve flowers long term, it’s important to remove excess foliage before preservation to speed drying and reduce decay. Handle your blooms gently, as they’re fragile once their water is gone.

Best Ways to Preserve Flowers (At a Glance)

How Long Do Preserved Flowers Last?

• Air-dried flowers: 1–3 years
• Silica gel preserved flowers: 3–10+ years
• Pressed flowers: 5–20+ years when framed
• Resin-preserved flowers: 10–20+ years

Keeping preserved flowers out of sunlight and humidity dramatically extends their lifespan.

Pro tip: Sunlight and humidity shorten lifespan more than the method itself.

After helping countless brides preserve their wedding flowers, these are the methods that consistently produce the best long-term results.

1. Air Drying (Classic & Easy)

If you’re wondering how to preserve flowers forever, air drying is the simplest and most classic way. Hang your flowers upside down and let gravity and time work their magic.

1. Gather flowers in small bunches and tie stems with twine.
2. Hang them upside down in a cool, dry, dark place.
3. Leave undisturbed for 1–3 weeks until petals feel papery and dry.

Air drying keeps your bouquet’s natural shape. Ideal for roses, lavender, baby’s breath, and greenery. Colors may fade slightly, and petals become brittle, but the result is timeless.

Best for: bouquets you want preserved in 3D for shadow boxes or décor.

► Learn more about how to dry flowers from the experts at Chicago Botanic →

2. Silica Gel Drying (Keeps Shape & Color)

This method dries blooms quickly while preserving shape and color better than air drying. You’ll need silica gel crystals and an airtight container.

• Pour a layer of silica gel in a container.
• Place trimmed flowers upright, without touching each other.
• Gently pour silica gel over blooms until covered.
• Seal and leave for 2–7 days depending on bloom thickness.
• Gently brush gel off when dry.

Silica gel speeds up drying while keeping flowers looking fresh. Great for roses, hydrangeas, peonies, and any bloom you want to preserve in 3D. Get a beginner-friendly silica gel flower preservation kit to preserve blooms at home in just a few days.

3. Pressing Flowers (Flat Art & Keepsakes)

Pressing flowers captures a moment in time: perfect for framed art, cards, journals, or bookmarks. It flattens blooms while keeping color vibrant.

1. Place flowers between absorbent paper (blotting paper, parchment, or newspaper).
2. Insert between pages of a heavy book or flower press.
3. Add weight (other books) and wait 1–3 weeks.
4. Replace paper if damp until fully dry.

Pressed flowers can be arranged in frames, on cards, or in scrapbooks. Small blooms like pansies and violets work best. For hassle-free pressed flowers, check out this professional flower press kit.

Pro Tip: Don’t want to DIY? get your flowers professionally pressed for a polished keepsake.

► If you’re preserving your wedding bouquet, you may also love these Where to Get Your Wedding Bouquet Preserved (Before It’s Too Late).

4. Microwave Drying (Fast & Fun)

Need results fast? Microwave drying works well, especially combined with silica gel.

1. Place flower with silica gel in a microwave-safe container.
2. Add a cup of water to the microwave to protect flowers.
3. Microwave on low power, checking every 30 seconds.
4. Let cool before handling.

This takes minutes for some blooms. Watch closely, as overdoing it can scorch petals. Best for small flowers and last-minute projects.

5. Resin Preservation (Keeps Memories in 3D)

Resin art lets you turn dried blooms into jewelry, coasters, paperweights, or décor. Fully dry your flowers (air, silica, or pressed) before embedding them in clear epoxy resin.

The result is a touch-proof keepsake that preserves shape and color beautifully.

Best for: wearable memories and custom home pieces.

Common Flower Preservation Mistakes to Avoid

• Preserving flowers that are already wilting or browning
• Skipping drying time before using resin
• Leaving preserved flowers in direct sunlight
• Using damp paper when pressing flowers
• Storing dried flowers in humid rooms

Pro Tips Before You Preserve

• Work quickly: Freshest blooms give best results.
• Keep dark and dry: Light and humidity fade colors and risk mold.
• Use a protective spray: Light mist of hairspray or clear acrylic helps petals last longer.
• Test small batches: Try a few flowers before committing to an entire bouquet.

Which Flowers Are Best for Preservation?

• Best overall: Roses, hydrangeas, peonies
• Best for pressing: Pansies, daisies, violets
• Best for air drying: Lavender, baby’s breath, eucalyptus
• Trickier blooms: Tulips, lilies (best with silica gel)

Creative Ways to Use Preserved Flowers

• Framed art for your home
• Shadow boxes with photos or wedding vows
• Resin jewelry (rings, pendants, bracelets)
• Bookmarks or greeting cards for loved ones
• Table décor that keeps memories alive forever

Want a professional touch? order pressed flowers as keepsakes and skip the DIY.

Flower Preservation FAQs

What’s the easiest way to preserve flowers?
Air drying: tie stems and hang in a dry, dark place for a few weeks.

Do flowers need to be fresh?
Yes, fresher flowers retain color and shape best, though some slightly aged blooms can still be pressed or dried.

How long do preserved flowers last?
With proper care (no direct sunlight, dry environment), preserved flowers can last for years or even decades.

Can you press all flower types?
Small, flat petals work best; thick flowers may not press evenly.

Questions? Drop them in the comments, I love helping you keep your memories alive!

Happy Preserving!

xo

Emma