Q&A for How to Preserve Pinecones

No, baking is not an essential step. Pinecones open as they dry up, and baking is a quick and easy way to dry them out. You can also wait for the pinecones to dry naturally, although that will be a much slower process.

If there's sticky sap on the pinecones, you may want to soak them a little longer in the vinegar solution.

It often helps to slice off a bit of the bottom of the pinecones to create a flat surface. Otherwise, you may want to hot glue the pinecones onto some type of base, such as a small piece of cardboard that's been painted.

After you've cleaned and dried the pinecones, place them in a plastic zipper bag. Add either your favorite essential oil, cinnamon sticks, or ground spices to the bag, and seal the bag. Allow the pinecones to sit in the bag for a week before sealing them with your preferred method.

The simple method to preserve a pine cone is to wash the pine cone in a sink full of warm water with a cup of vinegar. Let them soak in this for 20-30 minutes. Lay down some newspaper so you can place your pine cones on the paper and let them dry. The pine cones will be completely set when they are dry.

I suggest to spray them with a clear acrylic spray, polyurethane, or spray varnish.

If you plan to spray paint the pinecones, there's not need to apply the varnish first. The spray paint will seal the cones and help preserve them.

It will have an odor initially but it will usually go away after a while.

People usually preserve pinecones to use them in crafts, such as a wreaths and floral displays.

Soaking the pinecones in the vinegar solution is mainly done to clean them. If you want to ensure that the color lasts as long as possible, it's a good idea to use one of the sealing methods above.

Pinecones close up when they get moist, so keeping them dry should allow them to stay open.

Yes, just use the same cleaning method and preserve them with the spray. They may last for a good few years or longer.

After you have cleaned and dried them, coat with a sealer to protect from moisture. Moisture is what will cause them to close.

Yes you can. As long as they are not exposed to the sun, heat or mold, they should keep well in your garage.

Pick the pine cones, then put them in a zip-lock bag and let it sit for 3 days. Then place them on your outside porch, in the sun to air out. Then you can spray paint them with gold paint. Had them in my house in a cute container for 3 years. Put flowers of the season in with them for decoration. It is also great to tie a strong string on the top, fill them with peanut butter and hang them from a tree. The birds love them.

When you soak the pine cones, they most likely will close up. To keep them in a closed position, you can wrap them snugly. Be sure to use a wrap that will allow them to breath while drying. If the pine cone isn’t allowed to dry completely while wrapped, it may get musty and/or moldy. Set the wrapped pinecone(s) in the sun to allow them a more complete drying out.

They close up when they are in the rain and they re-open when they are dried. To place them in a wreath, wet them first (dampen them with a squirt bottle don't drown them) before putting them in a wreath base. This way, they become soft and close up a bit so you can put them into the spots needed. Then, as they dry, they reopen and are officially stuck in the base now instead of wreath wire and or a hot glue mess. Also, the long white pine cones work best.