It’s no secret why we all love gerbera daisies—those vibrant, cheerful blooms can brighten up any room! It’s only natural to want to keep that pop of color around as long as possible. If you’re looking to preserve your gerberas, there are a few tricks to doing it right so they stay looking fabulous.
Let Them Dry Out Completely
The golden rule for preserving gerberas is making sure they are 100% dry. You’ll want to wait until the flowers have fully bloomed before taking them out of the vase. Give the stems a good wipe-down to remove any moisture, then bundle them together with some twine and hang them upside down. Just a quick tip: don’t tie the twine too tight, or you might accidentally snap those delicate stems!
Treating Your Blooms
Once they’re hanging, you can give the petals a little extra help by coating them with clear lacquer or glycerin, followed by a thin layer of wax. Depending on how humid your house is and how thick the stems are, the whole drying process usually takes about two to three weeks. Make sure to hang them in a breezy spot away from direct sunlight—UV rays are the enemy here and will cause those gorgeous colors to fade.
Skip the Oven!
While you might have heard of drying some flowers in the oven to speed things up, don’t try it with gerberas. Even on a low heat setting, the petals will turn a dull brownish color. The only time you’d want to use the oven is if you’re planning on coating them in colored wax later anyway. And definitely skip the freezer! Freezing doesn’t actually dry the flower out; it just turns it into a mushy mess once it thaws.
To get the best results when drying your gerberas, just follow these simple steps:
- Wait for the flowers to reach full bloom.
- Dry off the stems and hang the bouquet upside down.
- Treat the petals with clear lacquer and wax for a lasting finish.
