Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Department of Horticulture
Mimeo HO-31
May, 1965
HOW TO DRY PLANT MATERIAL FOR DRIED FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS
Nature provides a wealth of plant material which can be dried and used in flower arrangements when garden flowers are not available. Each season of the year provides material which can be gathered and prepared for future use.
Materials can be gathered from the flower garden, vegetable and herb gardens, woods, swamps, grain fields and any place where plants grow either cultivated or wild. Some exotic materials can be purchased from your local flower shop. These exotic plants add interest and provide a variety to the arrangement which cannot be gathered locally.

WHEN AND HOW TO COLLECT MATERIAL
Start collecting material early, when spring flowers are available, tulips, daffodils and the spring bulbs dry well and can be used during the winter. Collect materials as they become available. Some flowers do not dry well and should be avoided until one of the methods to be described later has been mastered. Collecting can go on until winter comes, and even then, certain woody materials can be gathered and used such as branches, twigs and woody plants.
When collecting material for drying, select twice as much as you think you will be able to use for sometimes dried material is difficult to handle and can many times break during use.
Some idea as to the kind of arrangement to be made governs how much material is needed. Also by having a wide selection of material available, you can choose and pick your material for use in a particular arrangement.
Most plant material dries well if the correct method is used to preserve the naturalness of the plant. Also important is knowing the correct time to gather the various types of plant material. Most material should be gathered as it becomes mature, this is one of the secrets of being successful in drying plant materials.
Specific instructions will be given on various plant materials in the list of plants that can be dried successfully.

METHODS OF DRYING MATERIALS
Now let’s look at some of the methods that can be used for drying plant materials. They are not difficult to use if directions are followed.

Hanging Method
This is the easiest and one of the best methods for drying plant materials. Tie the stems together with string or rubber band and hang heads down in a dry place. When this method is used, most flowers keep their shape and do not shatter. The foliage should be stripped from the stems when the material is gathered. Any dry dark place, such as an attic, dark closet, or shed, will be satisfactory. Strings or wires must be stretched to hold the flowers . The lines should be far enough apart so that the bunches of flowers do not touch. Flowers should be bunched
Much of the information presented here is reproduced from Gardening, Forcing, Conditioning and Drying for Flower Arrangers, by Arno H. Nehrling, by permission of Hearthside Press, Inc., New York.____________