Pressed flowers and foliage from houseplants are gorgeous and easy to press yourself! In this video learn about pressing flowers, as well as what some pressed flowers look like when they are dry and drying. You will also learn how to preserve the color in the flowers and foliage when pressing and drying. Have fun!
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below.
Today, we have another installment of pressed foliage and flowers from houseplants. I know some viewers, like Christina, have been eagerly waiting for more on this topic, so here we go!
The craft of flower pressing began hundreds of years ago in China and Japan. Originally, flowers were pressed between sheets of rice paper, weighed down with heavy stones. You can see here that I am using a brick to press them down. These pressed flowers were highly valued for their decorative qualities. In the West, plants were pressed for scientific and ornamental purposes. Botanists created herbaria collections or libraries of pressed flowers for research, teaching, and documentation, especially for endangered plants.
Emily Dickinson, in her teens, created her own herbarium, and a digitized version of it is available in the gallery exhibition of Emily Dickinson’s garden, “The Poetry of Flowers.” This pastime was popular in the United States during the 19th century, making it a beautiful way to preserve memories of indoor plants.
As we continue, I’ll show you how to preserve the color of pressed flowers and foliage. For example, you can see how a parlor palm becomes quite beautiful once dried. Similarly, a maidenhair fern and a pink polka dot plant also make great dried specimens. However, many flowers lose their color when pressed, fading to darker shades.
African violet flowers, for instance, darken significantly, as you can see with the dried specimens. Some flowers, like those from indoor miniature roses, turn taupe, while others, like orchids, show interesting color changes.
To preserve the color of pressed flowers, it’s important to dry them quickly. Bacteria and fungi feed on plant tissue, causing it to break down as it dries. Most of these microorganisms thrive in moisture, so faster drying helps retain color. Although drying in the microwave is an option, I prefer the traditional pressing method, which involves changing out absorbent paper for dryer paper to speed up the process.
Today, I’ll demonstrate how to manage moisture and arrange your pressed specimens. For effective pressing, use a field press or create your own with cardboard and contact paper. You can also use heavyweight sheets for better absorption.
Remember to handle delicate flowers with care, using tweezers if needed. I’ll show you how to reposition and dry flowers like the China doll plant and African violets. The key is to spread them out and avoid overlapping to prevent moisture buildup.
Once your flowers are dried, you can use them in various crafts. If color preservation is challenging, you might opt to paint them with a watercolor wash for added vibrancy. In the next video, I’ll show you how to create something with these pressed flowers.
Thank you for stopping by today! Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video, and don’t forget to hit the bell icon to be notified when new videos are released.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the history of flower pressing?
The craft of flower pressing began hundreds of years ago in China and Japan. Originally, flowers were pressed between sheets of rice paper and weighed down with heavy stones. In the West, plants were pressed for scientific and ornamental purposes, and botanists created herbaria collections of pressed flowers for research, teaching, and documentation.
How did Emily Dickinson contribute to flower pressing?
Emily Dickinson created her own herbarium in her teens. A digitized version of her herbarium is available in the gallery exhibition of Emily Dickinson’s garden, “The Poetry of Flowers.” This pastime was also popular in the United States during the 19th century.
How can I preserve the color of pressed flowers?
To preserve the color of pressed flowers, it’s important to dry them quickly. Bacteria and fungi feed on plant tissue, causing it to break down as it dries. Most microorganisms thrive in moisture, so faster drying helps retain color. Although drying in the microwave is an option, traditional pressing methods involving changing out absorbent paper for dryer paper are often preferred.
What materials are best for pressing flowers?
Effective pressing can be achieved using a field press or creating your own press with cardboard and contact paper. Heavyweight sheets are recommended for better absorption. For delicate flowers, tweezers can help handle them with care.
How do I manage moisture in pressed flowers?
Manage moisture by spreading flowers out and avoiding overlapping. This helps prevent moisture buildup. Changing out absorbent paper for dryer paper speeds up the drying process and helps prevent mold and fungal growth.
Can pressed flowers be used in crafts?
Yes, once dried, pressed flowers can be used in various crafts. If preserving color is challenging, you can paint them with a watercolor wash for added vibrancy.
Where can I learn more about indoor gardening and flower pressing?
For more information on indoor gardening and flower pressing, visit HealthyHouseplants.com. You can also check out our videos for tutorials and tips on these topics.
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