It will last all winter: how to dry hydrangea to preserve its color

Hydrangeas are elegant flowers that will become a real decoration of the garden. They can be grown both in home gardens and as indoor plants. To enjoy the bright and lush blooms for as long as possible, you can try the technique of drying the flowers.

In cold autumn and winter, dried flower bouquets will bring back warm memories of summer. OBOZ.UA figured out how to dry flowers properly to preserve their color.

Bouquets of dried flowers

For winter bouquets, not only traditional plants are used - lavender, heliochrysum, bluehead, lunaria, craspedia, but also hydrangea. The garden hydrangea has lush inflorescences and a variety of colors. It is quite easy to dry hydrangeas for the winter, and you don't have to use aggressive chemicals.

When to cut flowers for drying

In the midst of flowering, the stems contain excess moisture, so such inflorescences will dry slowly, may fade and quickly lose their attractive appearance.

But you shouldn't waste time either - overripe flowers will have an unpleasant brown tint. Cut hydrangeas for drying in early fall, from September to the second half of October.

How to cut hydrangeas

When pruning semi-dry stems, cut them diagonally - a larger surface area will allow more water to be absorbed, so the flowers will remain fresh for as long as possible.

How to dry hydrangeas

The color saturation and quality of drying also depends on the variety. When dried naturally, hydrangeas dry directly on the bushes in the garden. However, in the case of a rainy autumn, nothing will work - with excess moisture, the flowers will lose their decorative effect and begin to rot.

When drying at home, the inflorescences should be tied in bunches and hung upside down. Single inflorescences can also be dried. The flowers may turn slightly brown and become a little brittle, but this is the easiest and most affordable way to dry them.

There is another option - florists suggest drying hydrangeas in water. Such a flower will retain its color and shape, and the stems will be strong and elastic. You need to arrange the cut flowers in a vase, placing freshly cut inflorescences with short stems along the edges. On the next level are hydrangeas with taller stems. Gradually fill the vase with water until the stems are submerged and place the arrangement in a cool place in the house.

To maximize the shade, keep the plants away from direct sunlight and heat sources. In addition, to preserve the brightness of the inflorescences, you can add a little glycerin to the dome.

Earl ofier, OBOZ.UA told you how to improve the flowering of hydrangeas.

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