Dried flowers might not be for everyone, but they truly are a great alternative to fresh floral arrangements and worth having on display – even if you’re sceptical! Dried flowers last much longer with minimal or no maintenance required. Compare this to fresh-cut flowers which look bright and beautiful but require re-cutting, consistent watering, and will be enjoyed for just a couple of weeks. Dried flowers make for a great affordable solution to decorating your home, or for providing a gift to a flower-obsessed green-thumbed loved one.
People often wonder how long dried flowers last, the answer is that it depends. In this article, I will go over how long you can expect your dried floral blooms to last, and what small steps you can do to increase their lifespan.
How long do dried flowers last on average?
Generally speaking, you can expect your dried flowers to last up to one year before significant deterioration or discoloration. While this is the average, dried flowers can last only a few months or up to 3 years! It all depends on the preservation technique, and how the flowers are stored and looked after. While fresh cut flowers may only last up to around 10 days, preserved blooms are designed to last.
Caring for Your Dried & Preserved Flowers
To ensure your dried and preserved flowers can be enjoyed for as long as possible, follow these tips:
● Avoid direct sunlight
Dried flowers will naturally lose some of their colour and vibrancy in the drying process, this is completely normal and to be expected. However, the remaining colour needs to be protected from sunlight as this will cause colour to fade away faster. Dried flowers in the sun will also become more brittle and fragile, which could cause them to break or crumble faster than normal.
● Keep in a non-humid space
Humidity is the enemy of dried blooms. Keeping your flowers away from a window and in a dry area such as the living room, dining room or bedroom will keep them strong. Good air circulation and flow will help prevent moisture building up on your flowers. Avoid places such as the bathroom and kitchen which have more moisture than other areas of the home.
● Dust, but don’t touch!
Dried flowers are fragile, and fare best when they are seen and not touched. This may mean you need to consider where you display your flowers - it could be necessary to place them high up if you have young children or pets that might touch (or knock over!) your flowers. While they shouldn’t be touched with hands or paws, they will inevitably gather dust which can be detrimental to their structure - regular gentle dusting will help keep your dried flowers in a great condition.
● Don’t water them
One of the best things about dried and preserved blooms is that they don’t require any watering to maintain. In fact, water will damage your flowers and potentially ruin them completely. Set them, dust regularly, and that is all the maintenance that should be required.
Now that you know how long you can expect your dried flowers to last and have the knowledge on how to properly care for them, why not order your own stunning dried or preserved bloom bouquet, or have a go at creating your own arrangement with a dried flower DIY kit?