How do you dry hydrangeas?

Step 1 – Select the hydrangeas you want to dry 

Getting fresh hydrangeas…

As soon as the warm weather returns, it adds a lovely splash of color to the narrow streets of Brittany and the shady gardens. The hydrangea is recognizable by its clusters of pastel-colored flowers and its delicate fragrance.

And to dry them, it goes without saying: you'll need to get some fresh hydrangeas!

Are you lucky enough to have a hydrangea bed in your garden? Wait until they’ve finished blooming before cutting them to dry. If you cut them in the middle of August, the sepals will likely wilt, and the final result won’t look as nice.

Helpful tip: It’s best to cut them on a dry, warm day. Be sure to leave about ten centimeters of stem. Cut the hydrangea just above the prettiest buds without damaging them, so as not to compromise future blooming.

Another option is to buy fresh hydrangeas from your local florist in the Sessile network!

… the color you want!

As they dry naturally, hydrangeas take on subtle, vintage hues of green, pink, beige, aquamarine, and lavender.

If your hydrangeas change color as they grow, cut them to dry when they reach the shade you want.

Most hydrangea flowers start blooming in one color, such as green or white, and then change to another color, such as pink or red.

Cut the flower when it has reached the desired shade, and before it turns brownish.

 

I find my bouquet of flowers

 

Step 2 – Dry the hydrangeas

Option 1 – Let the hydrangeas air-dry

Hydrangeas can be air-dried in a vase or hung from a string. 

At Sessile.fr, we recommend hanging them upside down, as this speeds up the drying process and minimizes damage to the petals.

To begin, cut the hydrangeas with clean, sharp scissors, leaving stems 30 to 40 cm long. Next, use a clothespin to attach the stem to a piece of string, which will allow the flower to hang upside down.

Be sure to hang the flowers in a dry, dark place. Humidity and cool temperatures can prolong the drying time, while excessive direct light can cause the colors to fade.

Option 2 – Drying Hydrangeas with Silica Gel

If you want to give your dried flower arrangements a brighter hue, similar to what you see in the height of summer, you can use silica gel, a material available at craft or gardening stores.

To dry your hydrangeas using this method, choose a container that is wide and deep enough so that the hydrangea flower fits inside without touching the sides or the bottom, as its shape could be damaged if it rests against the container.

Carefully pour the gel around the flower and between each petal to encase it in the crystals. Then let the hydrangea dry for about four days. It should retain its original color.