1. Floriculture Horticulture CD
Unit B2-10
Floriculture
Horticulture CD

2. Problem Area 2
Floral Design

3. Using Everlasting Flowers
Lesson 10
Using Everlasting Flowers

4. Interest Approach
Take a look at the flowers that I have brought in today. How do you think these flowers were made? Can you guess at how these flowers were preserved? What are some ways that these flowers could be used?
It is a good idea to get several types of flowers ready ahead of time before doing this lecture. You can purchase silk and dried flowers of several methods from a hobby store such as Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. Look around there too, and you should be able to find an example of pressed flowers: either in a picture or a book mark.

5. Student Objectives
1. Describe when and how to harvest everlasting flowers.
2. Explain the methods of preserving plant materials.
3. Describe designing with everlasting plant materials (dried and silk).

6. Vocabulary Covering method Desiccants Drying agents
Everlasting plant materials
Fixatives
Glycerinizing
Hanging method
Pick machine
Potpourri
Pressing
Shattering
Silica gel
Silica sand
Wooden pick

7. When and How Do You Preserve Plant Material to Be Used at a Later Date?
Many materials can be collected at various times throughout the year such as grasses, pods and flowers
Ideal time is when these items are at their peak of color and shape
This varies from plant to plant
Be sure to catch the brightest color time because you will lose color during the drying process

8. If materials are harvested too late, shattering may occur
Shattering is when the plant materials begin to break apart or the petals, seeds and other parts fall off
Best time is in the afternoon when there is little moisture present on the plant
Dew or moisture could cause mold when it’s dried
Harvesting can be accomplished by using various cutting tools: knife, florist shears or pruning shears
Cones & pods can be hand picked
Collect flowers at different stages: buds, partially opened or fully opened will offer more variety
It might be nice at this point to take your students outdoors and collect various materials that can be dried and used later. Have them collect things at various stages of development.

9. Seasons for Collecting Plant Materials
Courtesy of Interstate Publishing

10. What Are Some of the Methods Used in Preserving Everlasting Materials?
Trial and error are often the best ways to learn which method works best for each type of flower you harvest
For example, pine cones will require no additional treatment if harvested at the appropriate times
There are many different ways to dry flowers and plant materials

11. Various Supplies Needed to Dry Flowers
Courtesy of Delmar Publishing

12. Various Drying Techniques:
Hanging method - (also called the hang dry method) is a method of collecting plant materials having low water content, bunching them together and hanging them upside down to dry
Flowers with high amounts of moisture will wrinkle when dried
Works well with annuals and perennials
Very easy method requiring few materials
Hang items in a dark closet that is airy, warm and dry
Courtesy of Delmar Publishing

13. Plant Materials Used With the Hanging Method
Courtesy of Interstate Publishing

14. A variation of the hanging method is the use of chicken wire to help flower petals dry in a flat position
Use on flowers such as gaillardia, zinnia or coreopsis
Place stems into chicken wire, resting the flower heads on top
Sometimes placing the stems in water can slow the process by decreasing the amount of water available
This will let them dry slowly often preserving their bright colors

15. Covering method - is a method that uses a drying agent to maintain the shape of the flower as it dries
Drying agents, also called desiccants, are agents that draw the moisture out of flowers & leaves
Silica sand is one of the most common agents; White builder’s sand
Silica gel is a crystalline form of silica sand and changes color when saturated with water
Both can be used over and over
Borax, borax with corn meal or kitty litter can also be used but only once
Courtesy of Delmar Publishing

16. Desiccants are usually placed in pans or boxes
Two-dimensional flowers are placed down on the desiccant
Three-dimensional flowers are placed upright, stem first on the desiccant
Flowers can be dried with normal air drying or speeded up by heating in a microwave oven
Flower should be placed in an oven proof dish and heated on high for 2 to 4 minutes; Cool overnight
Heating time depends on the flowers
Courtesy of Delmar Publishing

17. Comparison of Air Drying and Microwaving
Courtesy of Interstate Publishing

18. Drying Time Guide Using Microwaving Method
Courtesy of Interstate Publishing

19. Glycerinizing - preserves foliage & filler flowers by using a glycerin and water solution; It is transported naturally by the xylem of the plant
Allows the plant to remain pliable and flexible
Dyes may be added to enhance color
Potpourri - is a scented mixture of dried petals, flowers, buds, leaves, spices, fragrance oils and a fixative
Fixatives, such as powdered orris root or fragrance crystals, are necessary to hold or fix the scent for an extended period of time

20. Pressing plant materials is a very old preservation technique
Flowers & foliages are carefully placed between absorbent paper to flatten and preserve them in a two- dimensional form
They can be used to decorate stationary, bookmarks or picture frames
You can use a plant press, phone books and newspapers
Courtesy of Delmar Publishing

21. Picture Made With Pressed Flowers
Courtesy of Delmar Publishing

22. Freeze drying - a commercial method of freezing flowers first before drying them
Flowers placed in a large refrigerated vacuum chamber
Moisture is removed from the plant tissue
These flowers look very natural and hold their color well
Only drawback is that it is a very expensive procedure
These flowers were freeze dried.
Courtesy of Delmar Publishing

23. How Does Designing With Everlasting Materials Differ From Designing With Fresh Flowers?
When designing everlasting plant materials, materials that last for a significantly longer time period than fresh materials, designers use the same principles and elements of design
The mechanics and specific techniques are slightly different
Materials are often glued, taped or wired into place

24. Important principles in designing with everlastings:
Stems may be lengthened or manipulated in various shapes
Important principles in designing with everlastings:
Lengthen a stem by using flower wire and tape or a wooden pick
Heavy wire can be glued to the flower or attached in a daisy hook method then taped
A wooden pick is a narrow pointed piece of wood that can be attached with glue and used as a stem as well

25. A pick machine, a machine that attaches a metal pick to a stem, is used to ease stem placement into floral foam
Dried stems from other plants may be attached to short stems using floral tape
To save time, several flower, fillers and leaves can be attached to one stem
Pick machine
Courtesy of Delmar Publishing

26. Floral foam specifically for silk and dried arranging is available
When designing with everlastings, it is important to position leaves and petals so they look natural
Leaves should appear growing and not wilted and the stem may be slightly curved to look real in appearance
Unfurl the petals and stage the flowers to look partially and fully opened
Floral foam specifically for silk and dried arranging is available
An everlasting arrangement.
Courtesy of Delmar Publishing

27. Floral foam should be secured to the container using glue or wire
Spanish moss or sheet moss is used to cover the foam and hide the mechanics
It will give a more natural appearance
Secure the moss with either a little glue or greening pins
Secure the flower stems in the foam by dipping them in melted glue
A melting glue pan is excellent for this

28. Be sure the design doesn’t look flat; Can be accomplished by using layering
Layering is the process of placing some flowers deeper than other within the arrangement
Arrangements need to be cleaned from time to time by slight dusting with a lightweight feather duster, commercial spray or a quick blast from a hair dryer on a low setting

29. Summary When is the best time to harvest flowers for drying?
Describe shattering.
What kinds of tools should you use to harvest flowers?
Describe the hanging method.
What is a desiccant? And what method would you use this with?
Which method leaves the flowers in a pliable, flexible state?

30. Summary Continued What is the oldest method of preserving flowers?
What is an everlasting flower?
How can the stem of a flower be extended?
What do you cover the floral foam with when designing with everlastings?