Flower Pressing

Have you ever see a flower that you liked so much you would want to keep it for ever?

Then pressing that flower is your answer - maybe not for ever but for a long time. If you haven’t pressed a flower it’s really straightforward. Imaged to the left is a Crane’s Bill or Germanium rozanne in a small hanging frame. After pressing your flowers, you can make all sorts of interesting displays or herbariums, see below for an inspiration reel.

How to start pressing?

To get started you will need to get yourself something heavy (i.e. large books) or a flower press, and some blotting paper. You now need to collect your flowers on a dry day. Note that some flower preserve better than others i.e. the larger and more frilly the flower the harder it is to preserve. Those with a single layer of petals are the best (examples below).

1. Dab flowers with tissue paper to ensure they are dry.

2. Place the flowers betwen two pieces of blotting paper.

3. Then place your flower into either in your flower press or below something heavy; a pile of books is great.

4. Keep in a dry warm environment and leave for 3-4 weeks.

5. Carefully remove the flower from the blotting paper and stick into your display. Please be aware that your flower will be paper thin.

After pressing you can use as a decoration. Note if kept in direct sunlight colour will eventually fade.