How to Dry & Press Flowers: Make Your Blooms Last for Years

6th January, 2026

Interflora

A team of flower, style and design experts and enthusiasts. We love sharing advice on all things floral and offering top tips on expressing yourself and your emotions.

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Preserved flowers can hold special memories, transporting you back to cherished days and occasions. They’re also beautiful, helping to elevate a room and add vibrancy to your decor.

Whether you want to hold onto the joy of your wedding day (and have those impressive peonies around for a little while longer) or keep a sentimental bloom from a milestone birthday, we have the solution.

You don’t need specialist equipment or professional skills – just a little patience, care, and love for your blooms. In this guide, we’ll show you how to dry flowers, how to press flowers, which blooms work best, and how to turn fresh arrangements into keepsakes you can treasure for years.

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Pressing vs Drying Flowers: What’s The Difference?

Pressing and drying flowers isn’t exactly the same thing. Before you begin, it helps to understand the difference between the two techniques:

Drying flowers removes moisture while helping the bloom keep its shape. This method is ideal for bouquets, vases, and decorative displays.
Pressing flowers removes moisture and flattens the blooms, creating delicate, paper-thin flowers that are perfect for crafts and keeping in memory books.

Because of this, some flowers work better for drying, while others are more suited to pressing.

What Flowers Work Best for Pressing & Drying?

Best flowers to dry

Flowers with sturdy petals and lower moisture content tend to dry best and hold their shape beautifully:

Best flowers to press

Flat or single-layered flowers are much easier to press successfully:

Pansies
Daisies
Violets
Cosmos
Forget-Me-Nots
Delphiniums

Thick, fleshy blooms (like lilies) tend to hold onto a lot of moisture, so you’re generally better off drying them.

Top tip: Always pick flowers on a dry, sunny day, ideally mid-morning once any dew has evaporated. Choose blooms at their peak, free from blemishes or excess moisture.

How to Prepare Flowers for Pressing or Drying

Good preparation makes all the difference, so follow these steps to give your dried or pressed flowers the best chance of staying preserved for years to come:

Choose fresh, healthy blooms that aren’t fully mature
Avoid flowers with brown edges, bruising, or damp petals
Trim the stems and remove any unwanted leaves
Make sure your flowers are completely dry before starting

If you’re not ready to press or dry them straight away, place the stems in fresh water, cut them at an angle, and make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight.

How to Press Flowers

Pressing flowers is one of the simplest ways to preserve meaningful blooms, and this step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to press flowers at home using everyday tools. Once you’ve successfully prepared your blooms, simply choose from one of the techniques below.

Book method

Using a book is a tried-and-tested, old-school method for pressing flowers that requires a little patience. However, it does achieve great results.

Select a thick book you don’t mind potentially damaging. The moisture can stain the pages.
Place a sheet of parchment or newspaper on the pages where the flowers will be placed.
Place your flowers in a single layer on the paper, ensuring they are not overlapping and are as flat as possible.
Place another sheet of paper over the flowers and gently close the book.
Choose a warm, dry space to store the book and stack additional books (or another heavy object) on top to add weight.

Pro tip: Leave the book undisturbed for two to four weeks to allow the flowers to dry completely.

Flower press

Another popular way to press flowers is to buy a flower press kit. It’s slightly time-consuming to use, but very effective.

Prepare the press and place some cardboard on the bottom board.
Place a sheet of absorbent paper (newspaper) on top of the cardboard and arrange the flowers in a single layer.
Add another layer of paper on the flowers, then place an additional piece of cardboard on top.
You can keep repeating this layering process of cardboard, paper and flowers, depending on the size of your flower press.
Secure the press, tighten it and store it in a warm, dry location. Leave for two to four weeks to dry and flatten.

Iron method (for fast pressing)

Using an iron is a fast and efficient way to press flowers. Just make sure you take the appropriate safety measures when using an iron.

Lay the flowers between two pieces of absorbent paper, such as newspaper or blotting paper.
Arrange the flowers and then flatten them with something flat and heavy (a book).
Empty any water from your iron, put it on the lowest setting and place your flowers and paper onto an ironing board.
Press the iron onto the top sheet of paper for 10 to 15 seconds. Do not move the iron back and forth.
Repeat the process, with pauses, until the flowers are flat and dry.

Pro tip: If your flowers make a sizzling sound when you check on them, it means they still have too much moisture, so repeat the pressing process.

How to Dry Flowers

Drying flowers allows them to keep their natural shape and presence, making it the perfect choice for preserving whole bouquets or statement blooms from special moments. If you want your flowers to look as close to their fresh selves as possible, drying is the way to go.

Microwave method (for quick results)

While drying flowers might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your microwave, it can be surprisingly effective when used carefully.

Fill the base of your microwaveable dish with silica gel (or silica-based cat litter).
Place your flowers in the dish. Be sure to put the same type of flower in together because each bloom will dry at a different rate.
Use a cup to cover the stems and flower heads with more silica gel.
Place your dish in the microwave with a cup of water.
Set the timer for just 10 to 20 seconds at a time and repeatedly check on the flowers.
Remove the dish and leave everything to cool. This can take up to 24 hours, as silica gel can get very hot. Then remove the flowers and dust off the silica gel.

Pro tip: Microwave your flowers in short bursts and be careful, as the glass can get very hot.

Air drying (best for bouquets)

The air drying method is best if you have time on your hands and are looking for an eco-friendly way to preserve your precious blooms.

Remove any foliage from the stems of your flowers.
Group flowers of the same type together in bunches of five or six.
Tie these bunches together at the bottom of the stems with an elastic band.
Hang your flowers from hooks or on a coat hanger in a cool place.
You’ll know your flowers are ready as the petals will rustle when touched.
Finally, preserve your air-dried flowers with a spritz of hairspray.

Pro tip: You could dry a whole bouquet using this method — it’s perfect for preserving your favourite flower arrangements.

Top Tips for Perfect Dried & Pressed Flowers

Whether you’re learning how to press flowers or dry them, there are a few extra steps you can take to perfect the process.

Choose fresh, unblemished blooms: Avoid mould and browning, and make sure the flowers are completely dry before you start. Replace the paper every few days during the drying process to avoid trapped moisture.
Handle pressed flowers delicately: Use a light touch or tweezers to lift and position petals. Ensure you use a clean, dry surface to prevent damage.
Store correctly: When drying your blooms, keep them in a cool, dry place, like a cupboard.
Take care of them: You’ve put in all that effort, so make sure your dried flowers continue to look their best. Don’t put them in direct sunlight, keep them dry, dust them regularly, and pop them in a spot where they won’t need to be moved too often.

Why not keep your dried flowers in a prized photo album or featured in a vase on your coffee table to enjoy every day? Especially if they remind you of a special occasion, like a wedding or anniversary.

Creative Uses for Pressed & Dried Flowers

Pressed and dried flowers offer endless creative possibilities. Here are some of our favourites:

Confetti: Dried flower petals are a great, eco-friendly alternative to your usual wedding confetti.
Smudging: Remove bad vibes by creating your own smudge stick with dried sage, lavender, rose petals, and rosemary. Light this and let the smoke clear your home of negativity.
To help you sleep: Dried lavender can be placed on your bedside table, and its gentle scent will relax you as you try to drop off.
Potpourri: Crumble your dried flowers to release their scent and feature them in a dish in your living room. Add essential oils to give them an extra boost of fragrance.

Crafts: Add dried flowers to homemade bath bombs, soaps and candles. They even work great for jewellery and phone cases.
Decoration: A bunch of preserved flowers makes for a permanently pretty decorative feature in your home. They can also be framed and used for wall art.
To preserve memories: Feature your dried wedding flowers in your photo album to enjoy a little piece of the day, long after.

How to Dry and Press Flowers: FAQs

Pressed flowers usually turn brown or mouldy due to moisture. If moisture gets trapped, then mould can grow quickly. This is especially true with thicker flowers, such as peonies, or when drying flowers in humid conditions.

The key is to remove water during the pressing process, following the guidance in this article.

Yes, absolutely, pressed leaves can look amazing when used for arts and crafts, and pair really well with dried flowers. Autumn leaves can look especially lovely, thanks to their cosy seasonal colours.

To press leaves, follow the exact same steps as pressing flowers.

If you use one of the methods for pressing and drying flowers in this guide, you stand a much better chance of keeping your blooms bright and striking. It’s all about picking them at the right time and drying and storing them properly. You can also use a sealant, like resin or spray varnish, for extra protection.

This depends on the type of flower and where you choose to keep them, but you can expect to enjoy your preserved blooms for at least one to three years. With proper care, they can last even longer, though their colours will eventually fade over time.

Discover Handcrafted Flowers Worth Keeping

Now you know how to dry and press flowers; all you need are some beautiful blooms to get started. At Interflora, our experts hand-craft stunning arrangements that can be preserved and cherished for years to come.

Made with the freshest flowers, our perfect bouquets are available for same-day or next-day delivery.

Move one step closer to making show-stopping dried flowers with Interflora, and turn your favourite floral gifts into beautiful, lasting memories.

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