How to Dry Hydrangeas

It’s no secret that Carolina and I LOVE Hydrangeas. Hydrangeas are elegant, and their large blooms not only serve as a base for flower arrangements, but they are also stunning on their own. Fresh-cut or dried, hydrangeas are always stunning!

Hydrangea is a popular bloom for dried arrangements. By drying their blooms, we can enjoy their beauty for months. There are a few methods to dry hydrangea flowers, but vase drying is easier and helps preserve their color. There is also a silica method that dries the hydrangea in only 4 days and maintains the original shade. I have never used this method as I have read a few reviews saying it is expensive and risky to damage some of the petals.

There is not much secret to dry the hydrangeas blooms. It only requires patience as the process may take two or more weeks to dry. Follow some of my tips:

• The first step, and probably the most important, is to identify when to cut hydrangeas for drying. Fresh blooms tend to wilt before they dry, so allow them to remain on the bush past their prime. You should only cut the flowers after they have already changed the color (vintage look) and started to dry while on the bush. But be careful and make sure to cut the flowers before they turn brown. Septembers and early October is usually the best time to cut them to dry and preserve.
• Cut the blooms 10-15” long. You can even go longer depending on what type of arrangement you want to create. I personally don’t like to prune my hydrangeas too short, so I cut no longer than 15”.

• Strip off all the leaves and place the blooms in a bucket or in a vase with water (fill the vase ¾ with water). I like to enjoy my hydrangeas before they dry, so I arrange them as I would do with any other flower arrangement and place them throughout my house while they dry. Just make sure Strip off all the leaves and place the blooms in a bucket or in a vase with water (fill the vase ¾ with water). I like to enjoy my hydrangeas before they dry, so I arrange them as I would do with any other flower arrangement and place them throughout my house while they dry. Just make sure to place them out of direct sunlight; otherwise, they will fade very quickly.
• Monitor the water level and the blooms. Allow the water to evaporate naturally as the flowers dry but depending on the look and feel of the blooms you may need to add more water. If the water has evaporated and the blooms are still supple, you can add more water to the vase. When the petals look like paper, then stop watering and let the water evaporate completely.