12 Ways To Dry Roses And Rose Petals

To air-dry roses form a small bunch by tying 5 to 10 stems at the base together using a string, twine, or a rubber band. Hang the roses upside down on a taut rope at least 6 inches (15cm) from the ceiling, 4-6 inches (10-15cm) apart using hooks in a warm, dry, and dark place.

Avoid exerting too much force on the roses to prevent moisture from seeping in. Allow the air to circulate, the roses should be dry in about two weeks. The flowers will be dry when the petals are hard and brittle to the touch.

An alternative when hang drying isn't available is to do plain air-drying by placing it on cardboard or a tray. Space them evenly and do not expose the flowers to the sun as they can become discolored. Flowers typically dry within 14 to 20 days using this technique.

Make sure the area is properly ventilated and turn the petals evenly to allow proper even drying. Once they dry, remove them from the tray and place them in a proper storage container. 

Unlike other traditional methods, if you don't have weeks to spare then try oven drying. Preheat the oven to 180°F (82°C) and place roses on a lined baking sheet. Keep an eye on them to prevent them from burning.

Start with a minimal time of 10 minutes to determine how dry the petals become in one go. Depending on the petals, it may range from 30 minutes to 4 hours. Once the petals are crisp and dry, remove them and let them cool before storing them in an airtight container. 

Some households may not have the traditional convection oven in which case you can try our other convenient microwave drying technique. Place roses on a paper towel with enough spacing. Cover them with another paper towel and microwave them for 30 seconds. 

Remove the paper towel and check if the flowers are dry. Repeat this process until all the petals are crisp and dry. On average it should take you about a minute but it can vary depending on the flower petals.

The speedy drying times of the oven and microwave are great but they can only dry a few flowers at a time. If you want to dry flowers in bulk but don't want to go traditional, consider getting a food dehydrator, they have multiple racks allowing you to dry many flowers in one go.

Place flowers on the racks and distribute them evenly. Set the dehydrator to the low setting and set the time for 1-2 hours. Check the dryness of the petals and repeat. It can take anywhere from 2 hours to 1 day.

This method is not as good as an oven or dehydrator in terms of quantity, but this method is about using what you have rather than what you don't have. Plug and set your air fryer to dehydration mode. 

Layer the flowers with enough space for proper air circulation and fry them for 5 minutes and check on the petals' dryness. The process should take about 10 to 15 minutes. Once they are dry, let them cool and then store properly.

If air-drying and heat-drying aren't your thing then you can also try silica gel. Silica gels are desiccants that absorb moisture from the air speeding up the drying process. Silica gels are also reuseable.

In an airtight container, layer roses on top of an inch of silica gel then cover the roses with another layer of silica. Ensure that roses aren't touching and let them sit for 2-3 days. Remove them carefully and store them in an airtight or sealed container. 

Drying flowers with a book or flower press is an affordable technique used widely by botanists and jewelry artisans. Use rice or printing paper to protect the flowers. Cut and fold the A4 sheet to create an envelope.

Place your flowers in the envelope, the flowers must be trimmed free from leaves and stems. Carefully spread out the petals and apply gentle pressure with your fingers to close and place them on a stack of books or other weights. This drying process takes around 30 to 60 days.

This technique is similar in principle to the book press but is quicker. You can either use special presses or make your own by pressing with glass. Arrange the flowers on paper in a single layer of cardboard/plywood/glass or use your mechanical press. 

Then cover the plants with another cardboard/plywood/glass/press then place weights spread evenly using stacks of books or a sandbag, etc. The average drying time is 5-7 days for lighter and 15-20 days for heavier flowers. Check the petals for dryness and remove them carefully. 

This drying method is ideal for fragile and delicate flowers that are difficult to dry through other methods through moisture-absorbing substances like white flour, borax, cornmeal, semolina, oat flour, silica gel, and salt. Ideally, use freshly cut half-bloomed flowers.

Pour 1-2 inches of absorbents into a deep container. Arrange the flowers and pour the powder between the petals for thorough drying. Seal the container and check every 3 days. Depending on flower size and desiccant, it may take 3-25 days.

Paraffin is a simple and effective method and substitution for glycerin to preserve your flowers. Dip a brush into a neutral-colored melted paraffin and gently coat each petal of the flowers while moving into the center of the bud.

Allow each petal to dry completely before moving on to the next. This is a slow and delicate process with paraffin taking a few minutes to dry. This method imparts a luminous luster to your petals and helps preserve the beauty and shape of your flowers for an extended period of time. 

The method of preserving flowers replaces water with glycerin. After this preservation process, the shape, size, and elasticity of the plant remain unchanged. Remove the lower leaves and cut the stem in the middle or make a slanted bottom end cut and crush the tip.

Place the plants in a vase of water for 3-4 hours, then place your plants in a container with a solution mix of 2:1 hot water and glycerin. Transfer the container to a dark and cool place. It may take 10-40 days depending on the flowers.

The first step in drying roses is to choose the right ones. Although you can dry almost any rose, some will work better than others. Pick high-quality, brightly colored, and unwilted fully open roses in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun gets hot. 

Roses that look the best after drying are hybrid tea, floribunda, and grandiflora roses. These roses have sturdy stems and thick petals which still hold up well during and after drying.

Before we can get to drying the roses there are some important steps which must be carried out to prepare the roses for drying. Remove the leaves and thorns of the roses as this will help the roses dry more evenly and prevent them from getting moldy.

Make sure to use sharp scissors and cut off the leaves and thorns carefully so as to not damage the stems and petals of the rose. If you’re drying rose petals, you can skip this and instead pluck the petals from the flowers.

The use of dried roses isn't just limited to adding color and bloom decorations to the interior of your home. As a matter of fact, they have also been used in herbal medicine and tea beverages for millennia which have many health benefits.

Let us begin by explaining the various uses of dried roses before moving on to their consumptive benefits:

1. Decor

Rose Petal can be used for making colorful decorations to style your home. If you are feeling inspirational, go and introduce a spark of creativity into your homes with various DIY decorations such as rose-petalled photo frames, resin art, walls with petal accents, etc. 

Alternatively, you can also decorate more traditionally by using them for making a potpourri or placing them in vases. 

2. Skincare

Rose petals are known for their soothing and moisturizing properties. They help hydrate the skin and reduce inflammation which promotes a radiant complexion. You can use them as components in various skincare preparations such as facial toners, face packs, and bath soaks.

They are especially beneficial for those with dry, sensitive, or aging skin. On top of being used as facial toners, they can be used to reduce blemishes, fight acne and protect your skin from UV rays as well. 

3. Aromatherapy

Rose is associated with positive emotions and has a soft aroma which is widely cherished for its calming and uplifting effects on the mind and emotions. Use dried rose petals in potpourri, sachets, perfumes, or homemade scented candles and place them around your house to create a relaxing atmosphere.

You can also use them for bath rituals and as natural air fresheners. They will relax your nerves, relieve stress, and enhance your mood which helps promote a sense of well-being.

4. Cleanse Scalp

You can produce rose water from roses which is a mild astringent that can cause your skin cells to contract and help prevent excess oil production on the scalp. By preventing an oily unbalanced scalp environment, you can counter dandruff and other related hair issues.

Furthermore, rose water also contains vitamins A, B3, C, and E which are essential nutrients to keep your skin and hair healthy.

5. Flavoring Food

Roses have been used for flavoring in many things. Their petals can be added to a light and mellow tea to impart a floral note. You can also add dried rose petals to fruit-forward blends of drink for sweetness and tart. In regards to food, rose petals have been used to make jams, teas, wine, cakes, flavor extracts, and candies for centuries.

Alternatively, you can do away with all of this and make a simple invigorating rose water for a healthy detoxifying and metabolism booster drink.

6. Herbal Tea

Rose can be used to create a relaxing herbal tea drink which can impart many health benefits. It is a timeless classic whose properties have both been noted and used in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicine for the past millennia to relieve various symptoms and ailments.

From reducing anxiety to detoxification and sleep, check out the benefits section for a complete proper elaboration of rose consumption.

After reading the previous section, it certainly shouldn't be surprising to you that roses come with a plethora of benefits that are imparted, commonly through their consumption through herbal tea decoctions, infusions, or water. 

Here are all their consumptive benefits:

1. Relaxation and Stress Relief 

Used in herbal teas and infusions for their calming properties, drinking rose tea made from dried petals can help reduce stress and enhance mood. They do not contain any caffeine, unlike other teas and coffee. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that makes you alert but can also induce symptoms of anxiety.

By having this aromatic beverage caffeine-free, you can avoid stimulation and self-induce a state of relaxation to reinvigorate yourself. 

2. Digestive Aid

They can be used to support digestion. If you have an upset stomach, you can help soothe it as well as reduce bloating and ease your digestive discomforts. The main way to do this would be by drinking rose petal tea.

However, you can also go about this by adding dried rose petals to herbal blends, drinks, and food to aid promote a healthy digestive system.

3. Antioxidant

Rose petals are high in antioxidants, containing terpenes, flavonoids, and anthocyanins which have a similar effect to tea polyphenols that help protect your body against free radicals that damage cells and contribute to disease and aging. 

Atop of countering oxidative stress, you can further use them to help reduce inflammation and associated symptoms in certain medical conditions. 

4. Anti-Inflammatory

As mentioned previously, roses can help alleviate if you have inflammatory condition symptoms such as bronchitis or stomatitis through a cup of rose tea. Go for a hot infusion to help relax your muscles and relieve the upset sensations in your body through the anti-inflammation of amino acids. 

Furthermore, the contained polyphenols also have a bactericidal effect which can help prevent your illnesses from worsening.

5. Menstrual Support

If someone you know is struggling with their mensural cycle, recommend them some rose tea for menstrual discomfort. It alleviates menstrual cramps, reduces heavy bleeding, and helps promote a regular menstrual cycle for people who get them irregularly.

Additionally, its calming properties can also ease mood swings and irritability often associated with pre-mensural syndrome.

6. Helps With Sleep

We have already stated that its relaxing properties make it an excellent choice of drink for relieving stress however, if it wasn't self-evident it also assists in sleeping. Drink rose tea before bed to eliminate sleep disturbances. 

They regulate your sleep hormones and the lack of caffeine when compared to other beverages helps prevent stimulation which keeps you alert. For improved effectiveness, brew it together with lavender.

7. Detoxify and Boost Metabolism

Dried rose tea benefits the liver and promotes detoxification in the body. They also act as a natural laxative diuretic which hastens the elimination of toxins through your whole system and prevents excessive water retention in the body.

They also increase your metabolism which can be extremely effective when trying to shed those extra pounds.