Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Drying sunflowers for decorative purposes
• Method 2 of 4: Using Desiccants
• Method 3 of 4: Drying Sunflowers to Get Seed
• Method 4 of 4: Drying Sunflower Petals
• What do you need
• Air drying whole flowers
• Other methods for drying whole flowers
• Drying to obtain seeds
• Drying the petals

Sunflowers have large bright flowers that can brighten and liven up any room. It is not necessary to keep fresh flowers in the room. You can dry sunflowers for decorative purposes or for souvenirs and decorate your home with them. You can also dry your sunflowers to get seeds or petals.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Drying sunflowers for decorative purposes

1. 1 Collect partially opened sunflower flowers. If you are going to dry your sunflowers for decorative purposes, relatively small to medium sized flowers that are just starting to bloom are better suited. In such flowers, the seeds have not yet fully developed, so they will not fall off after drying.
2. 2 Cut the flowers so that they have a long enough stem. The stalk must be at least 15 centimeters long. Choose beautiful symmetrical flowers and remove dried leaves from them.
3. 3 Hang the sunflower flowers in a dark, dry place. Tie the flowers by the stems to a thread of yarn or twine. You can place three flowers at a time, but make sure that their heads do not touch each other. Hang the collected flowers in a dark, dry place, such as an empty closet, closet, or attic.
   • You can also dry your sunflowers in a vase. At the same time, their petals will bend beautifully. Just place the flower vase in a dark, dry place.
4. 4 Check flowers in two weeks. The sunflowers should dry out after about two weeks, but it may take three weeks. When the flowers are dry, cut the string and remove them from the pantry.
5. 5 Apply hairspray to the sunflowers. Flowers retain their shape and color better if sprayed with hairspray. Then place the sunflowers in a vase or cut the trunks short and place the flowers in glass frames.

Method 2 of 4: Using Desiccants

1. 1 Cut the stems short. When drying with special substances, it is better to shorten the stems to a length of 2.5–5 centimeters, as they can become fragile. If you want the stems to be longer, make them out of flower wire before drying the sunflowers. Thread the flower wire through the remaining stems, bend it down and twist.
2. 2 Combine cornmeal with borax. With a combination of cornmeal and borax, you can dry your sunflowers. Mix them in equal proportions. To preserve the color, add about a spoonful of salt to the mixture.
3. 3 Mix two parts borax with one part sand. Flowers can also be dried with this mixture. Add a spoonful of salt to preserve the color. This mixture is tougher and may crush flowers a little.
4. 4 Try silica gel. Another way is to simply apply silica gel. Silica gel is contained in sachets with the appropriate inscription and the warning "Inedible" ("Do not eat"), which are placed in boxes of shoes, leather goods and sometimes with food. You can also purchase it online or at a craft store. Silica gel dries various objects faster than other substances, so there is no need to add salt to it to maintain color.
5. 5 Prepare a drying container. Use a container with a tight-fitting lid, especially when handling silica gel. Pour the drying agent into the container so that it covers the bottom about 2–3 centimeters, and place the sunflowers there, flowers facing up. Sprinkle the drying agent over the flowers gently so that it covers them and close the lid.
6. 6 Place the container in a warm, dry place. As with hanging flowers, place them in a warm and dry place. It takes less than one week to dry in silica gel. If other substances are used, it will take 1–2 weeks to dry.

Method 3 of 4: Drying Sunflowers to Get Seed

1. 1 Wait for the sunflowers to ripen on the ground. In warm and dry weather, wait until the sunflowers are fully ripe in the ground. If possible, do not cut the flowers until they have changed from black to yellow-brown.
   • It is best to wait until the sunflowers begin to lose their petals and their heads hang. You may need to tie the flower heads to the poles, otherwise they will hang and die. The heads will get heavy and the plants will bend under their own weight.
2. 2 Protect seeds from birds with gauze. Wrap the sunflower heads with gauze or even paper bags and tie them underneath with twine. This will protect the flowers from birds and squirrels, and the seeds will not fall to the ground.
   • Wait until the flowers begin to dry out and tilt to the ground before tying the flowers.
3. 3 Cut the stems of the sunflowers at an angle. If you have to harvest the sunflower heads earlier due to pests or the weather, leave about 30 centimeters of the stem, then hang the sunflowers to dry indoors, flowers down, until their black heads turn brown.
4. 4 Collect the seeds after a few weeks. When the flowers are completely dry, you can simply remove the seeds with your fingers or a stiff brush. You can also use a fork.
   • If you have multiple sunflowers, you can rub their heads together.
5. 5 Prepare sunflower seeds. Take 4 liters of water and add a glass (about 300 grams) of salt to it. Go through the seeds and remove petals and other debris from them, then pour them into the water. Wait 8 hours (or longer) for the seeds to soak in the water, then strain the water and place the seeds in a skillet or baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 220 ° C, place the seeds in it and wait about 5 hours for them to dry properly.
   • Transfer the seeds to a tightly sealed container and place in the freezer. This way you can store them for up to one year.

Method 4 of 4: Drying Sunflower Petals

1. 1 Collect the petals. Pick a sunflower with beautiful, intact petals and pluck them out one by one with your fingers. Be careful not to damage the petals while doing this.
2. 2 Press dry the petals. Place the petals in a single layer between two sheets of absorbent paper, parchment paper, or paper towels (blotting paper is best). Place a paper with petals between two sheets of cardboard, place a heavy book on top and leave the petals in this position for several weeks.
   • You can also place blotting paper or petal paper towels between the pages of a heavy book.
3. 3 Check the petals. After 2-3 weeks, carefully remove the cardboard and absorbent paper and inspect the petals. If they are still damp, lay down fresh absorbent paper and press down for about a week more, then check again.
4. 4 Dry the petals in the microwave. Take a microwave plate and place two paper towels on top of it. Arrange the petals in one layer on top and cover them with two more clean paper towels. Microwave the petals vigorously for 20-40 seconds, or until dry.
   • When heated in the microwave, the paper towels will absorb the moisture released from the petals.
5. 5 Check the petals after the first 20 seconds. If they are still damp to the touch, continue heating them in short intervals of 10 seconds until they dry. At the same time, make sure that the petals do not become fragile.
6. 6 Dry plate and replace paper towels. Instead of throwing away the used paper towels, let them sit for a few minutes to dry.
   • Let the petals sit on paper towels for a few hours before using them to help them last.

What do you need

Air drying whole flowers

• Twine
• Gardening scissors

Other methods for drying whole flowers

• Bura
• White corn flour
• Sand
• Salt
• Silica gel
• Tightly resealable box
• Gardening scissors

Drying to obtain seeds

• Gardening scissors
• Gauze or paper bags
• Twine

Drying the petals

• Absorbent paper or paper towels
• Cardboard
• Heavy books
• Microwave plate
• Paper towels