Pressing flowers is a simple do-it-yourself (DIY) process. It requires only a few simple craft supplies, your favorite flowers, and a little time to dedicate to the process. Our guide draws on our research into the best lawn care companies, outlining the best types of flowers for pressing, various methods for this project, and ways to utilize your final product for home decor.
How To Select the Best Flowers for Pressing
Selecting the best flowers for pressing depends on when you start the project. For example, pressing must be done immediately for best results if you’re pressing flowers from a wedding bouquet.
Pressing flowers from your garden or a fresh flower bed in your spring lawn requires you to pick them in the morning after any accumulated dew has evaporated. In general, the healthier and better quality the flowers when you pick them, the better they’ll press. Avoid any flowers with obvious blemishes, dark spots, or torn blooms.
Flowers that feature flat blooms, such as violets, pansies, certain types of wildflowers, and daisies, tend to be the easiest to press. Shrub roses are also excellent candidates for pressing. Flowers with chunky blooms, such as carnations or multi-petal roses, tend to take longer.
How To Prepare Your Flowers for Pressing
Preparing flowers for pressing is almost as important as pressing them. Place your flowers flat, blot away any remaining moisture, and remove dirt and dust.
Working with large flowers with layered petals requires you to separate the petals before pressing. You can reconstruct the flower later if desired. Always use caution when handling flowers because sensitive petals can bruise easily.
When cutting flowers for pressing, make your cut at a 45-degree angle or steeper — this is the same technique TOH landscape contractor Roger Cook recommends for cutting blooms from the garden. Cut a quarter of an inch above the nearest stem junction, and immediately place cut flowers in water or begin the pressing process to prevent wilting before you can arrange them.
Pro Tip
- For the best results when pressing flowers, harvest them in the early morning, when plants are most hydrated. As the TOH team has noted, some plants will drop their flowers if cut too late in the afternoon. Use bypass pruners or a sharp pruning knife to make clean cuts rather than scissors, which can crush delicate stems and petals.
How To Press Flowers Using the Book Method
Many consider the book method the most popular way to press flowers. You’ll need one of your heavy books (large books and phone books work particularly well), paper to absorb moisture (such as parchment paper, wax paper, or coffee filters), and a heavy weight for this method. Avoid using paper towels to absorb moisture since paper towels with texture or heavy embossing could leave a visible imprint on the flowers.
Use the following steps to press flowers using the book method:
- Arrange the prepared flowers on one sheet of parchment paper or newspaper with almost 1 inch of space in between.
- Place the second layer of paper on top of the arranged flowers. Ensure the flowers are in the shape you’d like them to be when the pressing is complete.
- Close the book and place the heavy weight on top. Choose a weight heavy enough to create even pressure throughout. Wait up to four weeks for the flowers to dry. The total drying time will depend on the petals’ thickness.
If the flowers are thicker, changing out the paper every few days might be necessary. You should also handle the fully dried pressed flowers carefully, using tweezers if necessary.
How To Press Flowers Using a Wooden Press
Using a wooden press works similarly to the book method. It can yield excellent results and provides you with a beautiful homemade craft. This method requires two 12-by-12 pieces of plywood, two pieces of blotting or parchment paper, cardboard sheets, and four bolts and wingnuts.
You can use the following steps when pressing flowers with a wooden press:
- Drill a hole in each corner of the boards, approximately 1 inch from the board’s edge. Cut the piece of cardboard to fit inside the plywood, lay a piece of blotting paper on top of the cardboard, and arrange the flowers on top.
- Repeat the process as desired. Screw in the bolts and tighten the wingnuts until they’re secure.
- Wait two to four weeks for the flowers to air dry. Drying time will depend on the thickness of the flowers used. Thicker flowers will take close to the full four weeks to dry completely.
Ensure that the press distributes the weight evenly on all flowers. You might have to adjust the bolts slightly, but this method often allows for more even distribution than using books.
How To Press Flowers Using a Microwave
The microwave method might be perfect if you don’t have time for perfectly dried flowers but still want attractive results. This method requires a microwave flower press (special pressing plates for the flowers) and tweezers to handle the blooms.
Use the following steps for this method:
- Place flowers on the fabric liner in your preferred design and pattern. Working with many flowers will require you to group ones of similar size and style together.
- Microwave the flowers for 15–20 seconds. Check the flowers and continue microwaving them in 10-second increments until they’re paper-thin.
- Air out the special plates between microwave sessions to prevent your flowers from burning. Use tweezers to remove the flowers from the liner since petals might stick to the surface.
This method could require some trial and error, especially when experimenting with microwave times. You should do a test run before using special flowers to figure out a process that works well for you and your microwave.
How To Press Flowers Using an Iron
You can also use a household iron to press flowers. It’s a solid method if you don’t have a microwave and want quick results. All you need for this method is a handheld iron and some absorbent paper.
Follow these steps when using an iron to press flowers:
- Arrange the flowers between absorbent paper, positioning them into place carefully. Turn on your iron and ensure that the steam settings are off.
- Iron the flowers for about 15–20 seconds. Ensure the iron is on low heat, and you don’t spend too much time on one section. Let the flowers cool before ironing them again.
- Once the petals are partially dried, finish with another method, such as the book. Using an iron to dry the flowers completely might result in them burning.
Pay close attention to the absorbent paper you’re using. It’s prone to wrinkles under heat, which could cause ripples in the flower petals.
Avoiding Pitfalls With Pressed Flowers
Flower pressing is easy, even if you have no previous crafting experience. However, there are some common pitfalls to watch out for. Always ensure the flowers you use are fully dried out and have no lingering moisture. Pressing wet flowers will likely cause them to wrinkle or tear. They could also burn if you use them in the microwave or press them with an iron.
Flowers are delicate by nature, and it’s common for leaves or petals to tear in transit or as you’re working with them. There’s no foolproof way to prevent tears or rips in petals, but we recommend using tweezers when handling or transporting flowers, both before and after pressing.
Flowers can sometimes turn brown as they dry. Prevent this by pressing the flowers as soon as possible after picking them. You can also dry the blooms with silica gel crystals, which you can purchase at most craft shops. Place the flowers in the crystals and seal them in an airtight container in a totally dry place until they’re fully dried. This usually takes a day or two.
Quick Tip
- Watch for Mildew: If you’re pressing flowers from your own garden, inspect them carefully before pressing. Powdery mildew — a dusty gray or white coating — is a common issue that can ruin pressed specimens. According to TOH Magazine, you can prevent mildew by thinning out greenery to increase air circulation and removing any leaves with ash-colored spots. Flowers affected by mildew won’t press well and can spread fungal spores to other blooms in your collection.
Our Conclusion
Pressing flowers is an easy craft project that helps you capture and preserve a unique moment. Each pressing method we discussed has its benefits and drawbacks, but deciding which method is best for you depends on your time. Ultimately, careful handling and attention to detail using your chosen pressing method will yield stunning pressed flowers that last for years.
If you’re working with flowers from your own garden, choose buds that are only partially open — they’ll finish opening as they flatten and dry, giving you a more natural, detailed result. For thicker blooms like roses, consider separating individual petals before pressing, since dense flower heads trap moisture and are prone to mold. Screen drying racks, like those used by gardener Sharon Lovejoy for drying lavender and rosebuds, can also help pre-dry heavier blooms before you place them in a press.
Pro Tip
- Once your flowers are pressed, store them in a warm, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve their color. For display, craft stores sell frames for as little as $10, or you can splurge on a custom framing job — the art, after all, was practically free.
FAQs About Pressing Flowers
What is the best way to press flowers?
There is no one best way to press flowers. The best method is the one that works with your schedule and the materials you have. However, many experienced flower-pressing enthusiasts opt for the book or wooden press method since they yield consistent results and don’t often damage flowers.
How do you press flowers and preserve color?
Try to press your flowers as quickly as possible after picking them to preserve their color. You can also keep them out of direct sunlight to help them keep their color longer.
How do you press flowers without turning brown?
Press flowers without turning brown by pressing them as quickly as possible after you pick them. You can also help prevent flowers from turning brown by keeping them out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry space until you press them.
How do you preserve fresh flowers permanently?
Preserve fresh flowers permanently by appropriately preparing them for pressing. You can do this by trimming the stems, removing dirt or grime, and ensuring there’s no moisture in the petals or leaves. Save the flowers in a cool, dimly lit space until they’re ready for pressing, or press immediately for best results.
What can you do with pressed flowers?
You can do almost anything with pressed flowers. They look beautiful in picture frames or scrapbooks. They also make charming bookmarks or handmade cards, which you can send to family and friends.