7 Easy Ways To Repurpose Wilted Flowers

A bouquet of flowers is beautiful and makes for a thoughtful gift to receive. But it can be difficult to keep it fresh forever. Instead of throwing these precious flowers, why not give them another chance to keep the magic alive by repurposing them?

Credits to Canva

Read on to find out 7 of our favourite (and easy) ways to dry and preserve wilted flowers. Plus, pro tips on how to extend the freshness and longevity of fresh flowers so you can admire their beauty for a little bit longer.

1. Leave them as is

One of the easiest ways to preserve your flowers is to dry them. You can leave them to dry in their vase for a while for an "au naturale" look, or let them dry upside down to make hanging ornaments. Little bundles of dried flowers make for an inexpensive chic wall decor.

2. Create pressed flower art

Credits to Canva

Pressed flowers are great for framing and displaying. You can create rustic pressed flower artwork and personalise it to your heart’s content! Display your floral masterpieces in the comfort of your home to impress guests or send them as heartwarming mementoes. You can even add pressed flowers to handwritten cards and journals. All you need is just a few things you already have in your house; books, iron or microwave. 

3. Make homemade potpourri

Credits to Canva

Try reusing your wilted flowers by making DIY potpourri. Once you have dried the wilted flowers, simply mix them with a few drops of your favourite essential oils in an airtight oven-safe container, and then bake the mixture for about 2 hours. You can use entire flower buds, petals or both.

4. Turn them into floral candles

There is just something about candles that makes a space cosy and snuggle-worthy. /sighs/ You can easily make your own floral candles with flowers. Simply combine some dried flowers into your wax and voila! To spruce things up a bit, try using candle moulds in different shapes and sizes for variety. But keep in mind that these dried flowers do not add any scent, so feel free to add a few drops of essential oils for fragrance.

5. Make flower-themed coasters

Give your favourite mugs and cups a pretty place to sit. With some epoxy resin, pressed flowers, time, and creativity, you can make pretty flower-themed coasters for yourself or to gift to loved ones. Get creative; you can mix and match any flowers or foliage from your bouquet - the possibilities are endless!

6. DIY flower wreath

Credits to Freepik

This is a fun DIY home decor project. You can also invite your friends and family to help you out. There are many tutorials online so pick the one you like and get ready to visit your local craft store to shop for supplies. You can incorporate herbs into your dried flower wreath and extra embellishments like twigs, ribbons, small dried fruits and more. Let your imagination run wild and create a kaleidoscope of colours for your DIY flower wreath. Bonus: this flower wreath can last years.

7. Use them for gift wrapping

Credits to Freepik

Level up your gift-wrapping skills with some flower power. Consider adding little bundles of dried flowers and other foliage to your gift wrapping. This is, by far, the easiest way to elevate even the plainest wrapping paper. Using dried flowers to decorate your gifts also adds a rustic elegance, making your gift feel more special and personal.

 

How To Keep Fresh Flowers Fresh Longer

Now that you know how to dry and preserve your flowers when they are wilted, you also need to equip yourself with these must-know flower care tips on how to keep fresh flowers last as long as possible.

1. Change the water every 2 to 3 days

Like humans, flowers need to stay hydrated too. So, keep the vase clean and change the water regularly. This is to prevent bacteria build-up on the stems and avoid that horrible smell that develops if you let them sit in old, dirty water for too long.

2. “Feed” your flowers

While changing the water is just as effective for making flowers last longer, adding flower food can extend the life of the flowers by combating bacteria in the water. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the package carefully.

3. Avoid placing flowers near fruit or vegetables

Ripening fruit gives off an odourless invisible gas called ethylene. This gas is harmless to humans, but rather deadly to flowers. The top fruits you must avoid at all costs are apples and bananas! 

4. Avoid direct sunlight

This may sound contradictory but hear us out. While all flowers go through photosynthesis, which requires sunlight - to grow and bloom and make their own food, once flowers are cut, too much exposure to a direct source of heat and light results in premature browning and wilting.

5. Re-cut stems each time you change the water

By cutting the flower stems just before placing them back in a fresh batch of water, you remove the tissue on old stem cuts and expose new ones. This ensures good water absorption, thus boosting their hydration and longevity. You should cut the flower stems around two inches from the bottom of the vase.

If you're not much of a green thumb or simply have no time to dry flowers yourself then why not get a pre-made one? Not only does it last years, but it's also easy to care for!

Dream of personalising your own dried flower arrangement? Reach out to us and we will help make that dream a reality. You can follow us on our socials @lunafloral.my for more tips and tricks and floral design ideas.