There is a way, and more than one, to keep flowers almost intact. It is about preserving flowers in glycerin, gelatin and, of course, salt. What canning can do without salt! The last method is suitable only for compositions in closed vessels and does not involve pulling the flower out of solution.
I note right away that flowers in gelatin and glycerin remain the same flexible and change color only slightly. Become more faded. If you want a truly magical result, don't wait. And as soon as you receive a bouquet as a gift, select a few flowers for canning. The only "but" is that too young foliage cannot be preserved with glycerin
Better to take dense, not too young flowers. Oddly enough, too young foliage cannot be preserved with glycerin. It is better to remove excess leaves immediately. Take a close look at the flower that you decided to preserve. If you see damaged petals and leaves on it, then it is better not to use such a flower. The stem must be cut obliquely, remove the skin or bark (if it is a lilac or apple tree branch, for example) about 7 cm from the bottom and split. This is necessary in order for the solution to penetrate the flower better.
Glycerin is diluted with water in the ratio: 1 part glycerin to 2 parts hot water... The resulting liquid is poured into a jar, vase, any other beautiful vessel to a height of about 20 cm and put away in a dark, cool place. Penetrating into the leaves, glycerin absorbs their liquid and the moisture evaporating from the leaves and stems is replaced by glycerin. The liquid level must be maintained, therefore, as it dries, the solution must be topped up. This only applies to open containers.
In closed vessels, the level remains practically unchanged. Full saturation takes from two weeks to two months, depending on the size and thickness of the stems. But the result is admirable! For this it is worth be patient and wait. Plants preserved in this way retain their elasticity and flexibility and do not require special care; they can be wiped with a damp cloth from dust.
It takes from two weeks to two months to fully soak, but the result is certainly amazing!
Individual leaves can also be preserved. It takes much less time from 2 to 3 weeks. But you also need to consider some features. Fern leaves, for example, secrete milky sap after cutting, which can clog the moisture-conducting channels in the stem. In this case, the end of the stem should be held over the flame until it darkens.
Glycerin guarantees us only the preservation of the shape of the flower. But over the color you can "conjure" yourself.
In order to give the plants the desired color, you need to feed the plants with artificial water-soluble dyes by adding them to the glycerin solution. You can use brilliant green, acrylic, oil, silver, colored transparent varnishes, now creative shops provide us with a large assortment of similar products.
It happens that plants have been unsuccessfully preserved and white oxidized spots have formed on them, which spoil the appearance of our plants. You can correct the situation by bleaching the plants for a couple of days in the following solution:
1. Water 500gr.
2. Denatured alcohol 160gr.
3. Acetone 160gr.
4. Oxalic acid 50g.
5. Acetic acid 99% -10gr.
6. Sodium bisulfate 120g.
Flowers in decorative bottles.
The beauty of these decorative bottles is difficult to convey in words. And even a photograph cannot fully convey their brightness and tenderness for you.
To create a composition, you need a transparent bottle beautiful shape... It must be well washed and disinfected with boiling water. Plants can be laid immediately by splitting the stem and filled with a solution of glycerin and water in a ratio of 1: 2. For the best effect, before placing in the bottle, the plants can be placed in such a solution for several days so that they are saturated with it. Then put the flowers in a bottle, gently straighten them with chopsticks, carefully fill with a solution and seal the neck tightly. The neck can be additionally decorated with twine, ribbon or filled with sealing wax
Suitable for decorating bottles fresh roses or petals, dahlias, lilies, chrysanthemums, etc. At the same time, shells, beads strung on a thread, small figurines, beautiful buttons can be put in the bottle. Natural flowers can be replaced with artificial ones.
Another reliable preservative is a strong solution of gelatin with sugar, about 1/1. You can also use a very strong saline solution.
Flowers cannot be tightly placed in a bottle or jar; they should, as it were, hang inside the vessel. The composition inside the bottle may vary, but sometimes one flower is enough.
The salt method.
It is necessary to cut off the buds of roses that are ready to bloom so that the flowers have a stalk. Table salt is calcined in a cast iron skillet until it turns into a very fine dry powder. Then you need to take a tin box and pour a layer of already calcined salt on the bottom. You need to lay the buds on the salt, but so that they do not touch each other in any way. The buds are filled to the top with salt, after which the box must be sealed. When you need fresh flowers, the roses should be taken out of the box, carefully cleaned of salt, slightly cut off the stem and put into water. They will come to life and blossom. You can do it differently: pour in cardboard box salt, put the flowers there, cover them with the same salt, then close the lid, put the box in a plastic bag and put it in a cool place. In this case, when fresh flowers are needed, you need to take the plants out of the box and put them in a bath or a bucket of warm water for 2 hours for 2 hours.
Is there a way to extend the life of fresh flowers? Is a few days in a vase all they have? There is a solution! We will tell you how to preserve flowers in glycerin so that they will please the eye for a long time.
This treatment cannot be called drying, because flowers in a bottle with glycerin absorb a substance that replaces water in their tissues. Glycerin gives leaves and inflorescences elasticity, retains color. Preserving flowers in glycerin is an opportunity to admire them for several years! Flowers can change color over time. For example, eucalyptus leaves turn blue-green and roses turn brown or dark green.
Preservation rules
Before storing flowers in glycerin, they must be properly prepared. If the plant is evergreen, then you can cut it off at any time, and deciduous trees are harvested in August-September. Cut them obliquely clean and sharp knife... Flowers should be immediately immersed in water so that they do not dry out. Too hard stems need to be split a little with a knife so that the liquid is better absorbed. Keep in mind that some plants immediately release a sticky sap after cutting, which clogs all the channels. Such stems must be held over the fire so that the ends darken.
It's time to start canning!
We will need:
- boiling water;
- glycerol;
- flowers;
- decorative bottle or light bulb.
1. Dilute glycerin in boiling water in a ratio of 2: 1. Pour the flowers in the container with this solution so that the solution completely covers them.
2. As the plants absorb the solution, add glycerin. The duration of canning flowers in glycerin with your own hands, a master class of which we offer, depends on the type of plant. It may take anywhere from a week to eight months!
3. When the flowers cease to be saturated with the solution, put in decorative bottle, refill with glycerin and cap. An amazingly beautiful element of interior decor is ready!
Useful Tips
Once you have learned how to make flowers in glycerin, you have time to prepare clear glass containers while the plants are soaked in the solution in a cool, dark place. Than more unusual shape bottles, the more original and creative the floristic composition will look. As a bottle decoration you can use satin ribbons, decorative cords, various accessories.
When a beloved man gives a bouquet of luxurious flowers, it is a pity to throw them away after they have begun to fade. Well, we'll show you how to preserve their beauty and make them benefit you. Thanks to our master classes, as well as photos and videos, you can preserve flowers at home without any problems.
Glycerin is an ideal flower preservative. Due to the fact that it replaces the moisture evaporating from the leaves and stems, the plants remain intact and look fresh. Fresh buds are not suitable for this business. Dry them first. Two methods are used for this:
- Oven. All elements of the composition are laid out on a baking sheet and placed in the oven. Leave the door ajar and install average temperature... The process must be constantly monitored so that the plants do not burn out.
- Microwave. The process itself does not last long, while the color of the flowers practically does not change. Place the buds on a baking parchment paper and microwave for three minutes. Then take them out and hang them by the stems in dark place... Leave flowers for two days and you will succeed great stuff for creativity.
- Wash glass jars and vases clean and dry well.
- We cut the stem of the flower and remove the skin from it. This will allow the solution to penetrate better. We place everything in a transparent vessel and lay out in the order we need.
- We make a solution: mix three parts of hot water with one part of glycerin. Stir and leave to cool.
- When the solution will be room temperature, we fill them with our flower arrangements... Cover with a piece of gauze and put in a dark place.
- The liquid will gradually evaporate, so a new batch of solution should be added occasionally.
- After two weeks, the flowers will be saturated with glycerin and the process will be complete.
- If the solution becomes cloudy, drain it, rinse the flowers gently and fill with a new one.
There are several ways in which you can preserve flowers. For example, they can be doused with strong brine or olive oil. Cover with salt and even freeze. Through epoxy resin and dry plants craftsmen create absolutely incredible decorations. This material is environmentally friendly, safe and very durable.
Is there a way to extend the life of fresh flowers? Is a few days all that is allotted to them? There is a solution! We will tell you how to preserve flowers in glycerin so that they will please the eye for a long time.
This treatment cannot be called drying, because flowers in a bottle with glycerin absorb a substance that replaces water in their tissues. Glycerin gives leaves and inflorescences elasticity, retains color. Preserving flowers in glycerin is an opportunity to admire them for several years! Flowers can change color over time. For example, eucalyptus leaves turn blue-green and roses turn brown or dark green.
Preservation rules
Before storing flowers in glycerin, they must be properly prepared. If the plant is evergreen, then you can cut it off at any time, and deciduous trees are harvested in August-September. Cut them obliquely with a clean and sharp knife. Flowers should be immediately immersed in water so that they do not dry out. Too hard stems need to be split a little with a knife so that the liquid is better absorbed. Keep in mind that some plants immediately release a sticky sap after cutting, which clogs all the channels. Such stems must be held over the fire so that the ends darken.
It's time to start canning!
We will need:
- boiling water;
- glycerol;
- flowers;
- decorative bottle.
Useful Tips Once you have learned how to make flowers in glycerin, you have time to prepare clear glass containers while the plants are soaked in the solution in a cool, dark place. The more unusual the shape of the bottle, the more original and creative the floristic composition will look. As a bottle decoration, you can use satin ribbons, decorative cords, a variety of accessories.
Any beautiful bouquet, especially if it was presented to you on some significant day, I really want to keep it longer. It is clear that even if you use various tricks (and there are certainly such tricks), you can prolong its freshness for a while, even in a vase. But, this time period will not be very long. Therefore, in order to preserve flowers for a longer time and significantly, tenfold, to increase their storage time, you can preserve the flowers you like in glycerin. They will be stored there for a very long time. In glycerin, any flowers hardly change their appearance. They will still be flexible. True, the color of the flower itself will definitely change a little.
It is clear that for such canning, we need some kind of beautiful transparent glass container. Such jars of flowers can be put anywhere in the future. They will perfectly fit into any interior and will significantly decorate it. In addition to the flowers preserved in this way, you can also arrange homemade ones.If you combine everything correctly, then this will surely add more positive aspects into the overall look of your home (or maybe office) interior. But, do not take too young shoots for canning. The foliage of such shoots in glycerin is very poorly preserved. There are no other more serious restrictions for the preservation of flowers using glycerin.
What is needed for this?
In fact, very few components are needed for this, one might say, to a minimum. It is clear that the flowers themselves are with glycerin. And besides them, water, where we will dilute this glycerin, and any transparent containers. They can be glass or plastic. The main thing is that they have covers. And it is better to pick up containers nevertheless low, so that small flowers in them do not float to the very top. As for the flowers themselves, it is best to choose those whose stems and leaves are thick enough. Those flowers with thinner foliage have their own initial appearance do not preserve so well.
How to save? The very process of canning flowers in glycerin
You need to start by preparing the containers. First you need to wash them well. After that, the flowers themselves can be folded in them. Moreover, you can put them in any order, that is, arbitrarily. After all, when you fill them with liquid, they will surely mix. If the flowers are light enough, they will most likely pop up. The flowers themselves should be prepared before you place them in the jar. To do this, cut diagonally on the stem, remove all the leaves at the bottom, and split the skin on the stem or bark by about 6 centimeters. Thus, the glycerin solution can better penetrate into the preserved flower.
Stage number two involves the preparation of the solution itself, with which we will continue to fill the flowers. To do this, we need 3 parts of boiling water, into which you will need to pour only one part of glycerin. When you do this, just mix the solution well, and you can safely wait until it cools down to about room temperature. After that, they can already fill our flowers.
Most likely, the flowers in the solution will be randomly arranged. To arrange them the way you want, take a pair of tweezers or a thin stick, and "place" them in their places. After that, the jar can already be closed with a lid. Further, only your imagination is already working. That is, the container itself can be decorated as you like. You can tie colorful ribbons under the lid, add dried flowers or apply any other decorative elements.
Change the glycerin solution. Why do you need to do this?
When you finish decorating the container with flowers, you can already put the jar in its place. It will take about 2 weeks, the flowers will be completely saturated with glycerin, and the solution in the jar will quite possibly become cloudy. This is due to the pollen retained on the flowers and the flower sap. To correct the situation and make the solution transparent again, it is simply drained from the jar and replaced with a new one. The flowers themselves, when replacing the solution, it is better to rinse well. After that, the solution will no longer become cloudy, and the flowers will retain their appearance, which was at the stage of changing the solution.
Another tip for decorating the lid of your container. If you decorated it with pieces of fabric, then saturate them with any essential oils, the aroma of which is especially pleasant to you.
As for the promised master class video, here it is. Take a look.