How to Dry a Tulip

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There’s nothing better than looking outside and seeing a garden full of colorful, vibrant tulips. Unfortunately, tulips only bloom during the spring, so you may feel yourself missing them during the fall and winter months. Fortunately, there are a few different ways you can dry a tulip to preserve its beauty and keep it in your home for years to come.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Pressing Tulips

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  1. Take your garden scissors or pruning shears and cut the flower head at a 45-degree angle. You won’t need the stem anymore, so you can throw it into your compost pile or on the ground outside. [1]
    • If you’re already dead-heading your tulips, you can just save the flower heads to press them instead of throwing them away.
  2. Pick a plain piece of paper without any words or pictures on it. Set your flower head onto the piece of paper and try to push it as flat as possible before you start. [2]
    • However the flower is situated is how it will dry. If there are any wrinkles or creases in the petals, they’ll be preserved unless you flatten them out.
    • Paper with ink on it can transfer color to your flower head, so it’s best to go with plain paper.
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  3. Grab another plain sheet of paper and put it on top of the flower head. Press down on it lightly to keep the flower in place as you position your final piece. [3]
    • Make sure you put your setup somewhere where the flower heads won’t be disturbed.
  4. Get a heavy book (a textbook or a dictionary would be perfect) and set it on top of the piece of paper. Leave it there for a few weeks, then take your flower head out when the petals are dry to the touch. [4]
    • Depending on how warm or humid your room is, it may take a little bit longer for the flower heads to dry. Just keep checking on them until they’re dry and crumbly.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using the Microwave and Silica Gel

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  1. Grab a bowl or a flat dish with a shallow bottom. You’ll be filling up the dish with silica gel, so pick something with walls on the side. [5]
    • If you aren’t sure your dish is microwave-safe, turn it over to look at the details. Usually, it will say “microwave and dishwasher safe” on the bottom.
  2. Place your flower head into the dish and then pour a large amount of silica sand into your bowl. Make sure it covers up the entire tulip head, and try to pour a little bit into the center of the tulip, too. [6]
    • You can find silica gel at most craft stores. It’s a drying agent, and it usually comes in small packets on the inside of shoeboxes or medication.
    • Putting the gel into the center of the flower will help it hold its classic tulip shape.
  3. The silica gel is drying on its own, but you can speed up the process by using the microwave. You don’t have to microwave the flower for very long, so just put it in for about a minute. [7]
    • The microwave will remove the majority of the water from the petals.
  4. Set your dish in a cool, dry place out of the direct sunlight. After 12 to 24 hours, your tulip will be dry and crispy to the touch. [8]
    • Now you can shake the tulip head off and pour the silica gel into the trash.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Hanging Tulips

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  1. If your tulip is still growing, grab some pruning shears and cut the stem at a 45-degree angle. You can pick one tulip at a time or grab a bundle, if you’d like. [9]
  2. Cut a length of twine or floss that’s about 6 inches (15 cm) long, then tie it in a tight knot around the bottom of the stem. If you’re drying multiple flowers, gather them into a bundle and tie them tightly together.
    • You’ll be hanging the flowers by this length of string, so leave the tail end out so you can work with it.
  3. Head to your garage, a barn, or your attic and tie the flowers up by the strings. Make sure they aren’t in direct sunlight and they have room to feel air flow all around them. [11]
    • If you hang the plants directly in the sun, they could dry out too quickly.
    • If the area you choose doesn’t have any air flow, your flowers might get moldy.
    • You can tie your flowers to exposed beams, nails, or hangers.
  4. The drying time will depend on your particular flower and how wet it was when you picked it. Keep checking on the flower every week or so until the petals are dry and crispy. [12]
    • Once your flower is dry, you can untie the string and display your dried flower in your home.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Preserving Dried Tulips

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  1. Direct sunlight can make your flowers lose their vibrant color. If you’re displaying them in your home, keep them away from windows so they don’t soak up any UV rays. [13]
  2. Grab a shoebox and gently set your dried tulip into the center. Close the box and put it somewhere cool and dry, like your closet or garage. When you want to display it again, take it out of the box carefully and set it up in your home. [15]
    • The box will help protect the flower from moisture and sunlight.
    • You don’t want the box to be airtight, because it could lock in moisture and cause mold.
  3. Hot air can dry out your tulip too much, leading to cracking or crumbling. If it’s the winter time and you have your heat on, be mindful of where you set up your flowers so you don’t turn them into dust. [16]
    • As long as they’re out of the direct hot air, the flowers should be fine.
  4. If you notice your dried tulip is losing its shine, it might need a quick wipe-down. Grab a feather duster and carefully brush it over the flower, trying not to crush or break it. [17]
    • If you notice any flakes brushing off as you dust, slow down. The flower might be too delicate to touch.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Will the tulips look the same when they're dried?
    Lana Starr, AIFD
    Certified Floral Designer & Owner, Dream Flowers
    Lana Starr is a Certified Floral Designer and the Owner of Dream Flowers, a floral design studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dream Flowers specializes in events, weddings, celebrations, and corporate events. Lana has over 14 years of experience in the floral industry and her work has been featured in floral books and magazines such as International Floral Art, Fusion Flowers, Florist Review, and Nacre. Lana is a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) since 2016 and is a California Certified Floral Designer (CCF) since 2012.
    Lana Starr, AIFD
    Certified Floral Designer & Owner, Dream Flowers
    Expert Answer
    When you're preserving dry flowers, they will likely shrink in size and they will lose their color. For example, when you dry a red flower, it typically becomes a pinkish-brown.
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      Things You’ll Need

      Pressing Tulips

      • Garden scissors
      • 2 pieces of paper
      • Heavy book

      Using the Microwave and Silica Gel

      • Microwave-safe dish
      • Silica gel

      Hanging Tulips

      • Garden scissors
      • Floss or twine

      Preserving Dried Tulips

      • Box
      • Feather duster

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/projects/how-to-create-dried-flowers/
      2. ↑ https://www.popsci.com/save-dry-flowers/
      3. ↑ https://www.popsci.com/save-dry-flowers/
      4. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/virtual-chelsea/wednesday/branch-out-mk-cic
      5. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/drying-flowers/
      6. ↑ https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/Factsheets/Dried%20Flowers16.pdf
      7. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP00400.pdf
      8. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/virtual-chelsea/wednesday/branch-out-mk-cic
      9. ↑ https://www.popsci.com/save-dry-flowers/
      1. ↑ Lana Starr, AIFD. Certified Floral Designer & Owner, Dream Flowers. Expert Interview. 24 March 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/Factsheets/Dried%20Flowers16.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/xV61tVTRBvQBfRNVTYQ3x6/winter-is-coming-but-here-s-how-to-hold-on-to-summer
      4. ↑ https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/Factsheets/Dried%20Flowers16.pdf
      5. ↑ Lana Starr, AIFD. Certified Floral Designer & Owner, Dream Flowers. Expert Interview. 24 March 2020.
      6. ↑ https://extension2.missouri.edu/g6540
      7. ↑ https://extension2.missouri.edu/g6540
      8. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/projects/how-to-create-dried-flowers/
      9. ↑ Lana Starr, AIFD. Certified Floral Designer & Owner, Dream Flowers. Expert Interview. 24 March 2020.

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