Q&A for How to Dry Leaves

You could use cardboard, tissue paper, or toilet paper instead of wax paper.

No. You would have to use material that's safe in a microwave, and those would burn.

The leaf would probably wilt from being unable to get sunlight.

The oven temperature setting to dry items in an oven is 180-200…ºF/82-93ºC, which is just below the boiling point of water. Paper will burn at 451ºF/233ºC, so there is no danger of paper towels getting hot enough to burn at the drying temperature. Do not dry items at any temperature above 200ºF/93ºC, as it will result in crisping and damaging the structure of the plant material.

Those ways are the fastest but this way is the most efficient and the easiest: Tie your flowers upside down and hang in a window that gets a lot of sunlight. After a week, they should be ready. And it adds a nice little decor to your window as they dry.

A really slow but natural way to dry a leaf is to just set it in the sun for a few weeks, maybe a month or two. Try a windowsill or similar sheltered place that gets lots of sun but cannot cause the leaf to blow away or become wet.

If you think your leaves are dry and stable enough, you simply put them to use in the way you planned.

The leaves can be sprayed with a mild solution of borax or tea tree oil. Both will discourage any insect life from eating the leaves. A nicotine solution is also an effective bug repellent on the dried leaves as well as on any living plant. Be aware that any repellent solution could change the color of the leaves. Test the solution on a small leaf to see how much change takes place. Allow it to dry completely, then compare it to an untreated leaf.