Hydrangeas are my all time favorite flowering shrub. Their low-maintenance and incredible blooms make them an easy choice for someone who wants big color and presence in their yard. The large variety of shapes and colors give hydrangeas the ability to fit into any landscape. Many garden centers and nurseries carry multiple varieties of this beautiful shrubs, but even if you don’t have access locally, Amazon now offers multiple types of hydrangeas! And drying hydrangea blooms to use indoors is incredibly easy!
How to Dry Hydrangea Blooms
So how can you extend the beauty of hydrangeas beyond their growing season? Dry hydrangeas! Knowing how to hydrangeas allows them to continue to be a beautiful decor addition throughout the winter and spring. And while I used be intimidated at the thought of drying my own flowers, I have found that is truly is simple to dry hydrangeas. If you’ve pruned your hydrangeas earlier in the winter then chances are you have big, beautiful blooms just waiting to be dried!
Drying Hydrangeas
- To start, choose hydrangea blooms that are full and brightly colored. Drying will cause the color to fade slightly, so the brighter the blooms the better. Once you’ve chosen your blooms, don’t cut them immediately. I like to wait for a few days to a week after their peak, so they’re already drying a bit on the shrub. (You’ll notice my fresh hydrangeas already have a few dried petals.)
- Cut your hydrangea blooms with a good sized stem (8-12 inches). I cut the stems at an angle, but this may not be absolutely necessary.
- Place hydrangeas in a large vase or other tall container, so the stems aren’t resting at the bottom. The blooms should rest easily over the top edge, so they’re aren’t crushed.
- Leave flowers to dry for one to two weeks. You will be able to feel the blooms once they’re ready. They will have a crispy feel, and the colors of the blooms will be slightly muted. The flowers are now ready to use in decor or as a lovely gift. If any of the petals have browned as they’ve dried, you can remove them carefully, but I like to leave them in for a bit of color contrast.
Learning how to dry hydrangeas is certainly not difficult, but it does take a bit of wait time. I’ve heard of other methods using upside down hanging or silica gel, but I find that this method is simple. I’m all about simple at this stage of life.
How to Use Dried Flowers
For information on how to use all types of dried flowers, check out this mini-guide from FTD.com just for you!
I love to arrange my dried hydrangea blooms in a large glass vase, but I’d love to know if you use hydrangea blooms in your decor! Let me know in the comments below and happy gardening!
How to Dry Hydrangeas
Knowing how to dry hydrangeas can help extend the beauty of summer! Drying fresh hydrangea blooms is easy, and no special tools or supplies are needed.
Materials
- Fresh hydrangea blooms
Tools
- Pruning Shears
- Vase or pitcher
Instructions
- Cut Fresh hydrangea blooms from the plant with at least 8 inches of stem.
- Cut away extra leaves from stem.
- Place hydrangea blooms in a vase or pitcher where they can rest against the side, but their cut stems are NOT resting against the bottom.
- Wait 4-5 days or until the blooms are dried. They will make a crunching sound when touched when they are dried.
- Use dried hydrangeas in arrangements around your home for months to come!
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Billie Joy Eller
Monday 29th of October 2018
I also am a Hydrangea lover and thank you for learning to prune my garden of beauties I have done a variety of ways and they always come back beautiful no matter what I do or don't do. I can't cut them myself any more but I will point my finger to cut them back Thank you again Billie
Courtney
Monday 29th of October 2018
Thank you for stopping by Billie! And I'm with you, hydrangeas are my favorite, and I am so glad that your beauties grow back well year after year!