Preserving Fall Hydrangeas

You’ll Need

• Cut hydrangea flowers with stems
• Spool of twine
• Floral spray paint (we used a rosy cranberry color)
• Floral spray paint

Directions

1. Gather the flowers cutting the stems at least a foot long if possible.
2. Carefully remove the lower leaves from the stem.
3. Spray paint the flower if you don’t want the color to dull (or if you’d like to alter it).
4. Tie or hook the stems over a drying line so they hang upside down.
5. Check them every day for a week or two to see how they’re drying. Spread the flowers out for more air flow if drying is taking too long.
6. Use them in your fall arrangements and craft projects!

• Helpful Tips •

Remove any unwanted leaves from your hydrangea cuttings, leaving a couple of the largest and strongest to hook over the string to hang

We used Design master floral spray paint in Cranberry to add a warm dusting of color to the hydrangeas. If you want to spray paint your blooms, do it before drying them for a more natural look.

To increase the longevity of your blooms, use wrapped floral wire to bolster the strength of the stems before using in floral arrangements.