Have you ever received a rose from someone special and wanted to preserve it? Whether you want to preserve a large bouquet of roses for decoration or just a single rose for sentimental reasons, you should handle dried flowers with care.
Roses have beautiful shapes and colors. No wonder the rose is one of the flowers that are quite expensive on the market so that it becomes a prima donna in the world. In addition, fresh roses have a beautiful aesthetic when placed in the room of the house.
If there is a question, what flower is most often used as a symbol or symbol of a person’s love for a special person in his life, all of them must agree with roses, red roses in particular.
Love is a feeling that everyone has their own way of expressing. Red roses that symbolize love, of course, are often used as symbols to show that feeling.
But unfortunately, fresh roses wither faster and do not last for the next few days. There are several ways you can use to extend the life of flowers.
How to preserve a rose for keepsake? Of course, it’s easy. First, we can use silica gel.
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How to Preserve A Single Rose with Gel Silica
Choose flowers that do not contain a lot of water. Roses should be dry to the touch, but not so dry that they lose their shine. The drying process will accentuate the imperfections of the rose, especially if it contains water. Pour silica gel (available at craft stores) into an airtight container to about 5 cm (5 cm) deep. Cut the flower stalks and leave about 5 cm, then place the roses in the silica gel with the stems facing down. In a circular motion, slowly pour the silica gel over the rose. Fill the container to the brim and make sure the container is tightly closed using masking tape.
Note that darker roses will last long after they are cured. Use a small container so you can better control the use of the silica gel. Make sure you sprinkle the silica gel between the rose petals but don’t squeeze or damage them. Use a small stick to help keep the petals upright and not overlapping when you sprinkle the silica gel. If you keep more than one flower in the same container, put silica gel at least 2.5 cm between them.
Carefully pour the silica gel into another container. Hold the rose stem, and flip it over so the flower is upside down. Use a small soft-bristled brush or cosmetic brush to clean the silica gel. Do it carefully. If any of the petals come off, you can reattach them with glue.
To connect the fallen flower petals, use a glue gun or a toothpick that has been smeared with a small amount of strong glue. Glue the fallen petals with a small dab of glue (so as not to show) on the outermost circle of the petals, at the bottom of the flower.
Wear protection, including rubber gloves, a mask, and protective eyewear. Mix 60 ml of Pro-seal 2000 (or another brand) and 90 ml of denatured alcohol in a bucket.
Using a 180 ml capacity Preval spray gun, spray your mixture of varnish (30 ml) and denatured alcohol (90 ml) so that it forms a thin layer over the entire surface of the rose. Spray the varnish at 20 °C with a humidity of 50% or less.
Remove moisture from the silica gel by placing it in the oven for an hour at 120 °C. When you see bright cobalt blue crystals, remove the silica gel from the oven and let it cool to room temperature. Once cool, store the silica gel in an airtight container and secure it with tape.
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How to Preserve A Rose Forever with Glycerin
Prepare some materials, such as fresh-cut flowers, glycerin, hammer, and disposable containers (such as used cardboard). For glycerin, you can buy this chemical from the nearest chemical store or pharmacy.
Roses are very easy to absorb glycerin, so even if it dries, the texture of the petals does not change at all.
Cut flower stems at least 15 centimeters or more according to your taste. Then open the flower petals to the ideal position so that they look good when dried. For best results, dry immediately with glycerin because wilted flowers don’t look good when dried.
Then, hammer the end of the flower stem with a hammer. This step is done to make the plant can absorb the glycerin optimally.
Make a mixture of warm water and glycerin. Pour this glycerin water solution into a disposable container, such as an old milk carton. If the amount of solution is reduced because the flowers are absorbed, add more solution to the container.
As this process progresses, the stems and flowers will slowly turn brown. On the petals, the rose-red color usually does not change, only becomes slightly darker. The texture of the petals will also appear a little soft like wax.
This inverted position will pull the flower with the force of gravity downward. Thus, the glycerin will be more fully absorbed throughout the flower petals and prevent the petals from curling.
In the last step, you just cut the ends of the flower stems that are set due to being hit by a hammer.
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How to Maintain the Quality of Dried Roses
There are many varieties of roses that retain their brilliance even after drying, from classic red roses to bright purple roses. Use a thick book and paper napkins (or paper that absorbs liquid easily). Protect the pages of the book by placing a paper napkin on each side of the flower because the pigment in the petals and flower stalks can stain the paper. Place the roses between the pages of the book, separated every 3 mm. Cover the book and overlap it with another book or heavy object. Allow the flowers to dry for a week before checking their condition.
Use a waterless iron. Place the roses between the paper towels and heat the iron on the lowest setting. Make sure the iron is free of water as the moisture from the moisture can damage the drying process. Spread the roses with the book after they have been lined with 2 paper napkins. Press the iron against the top of the paper towel for 10-15 seconds. Wait for 10-15 seconds and repeat the same process.
