Despite being delicate flowers, Ranunculus flowers can easily be dried. You can use the results for flower bouquets, wall decor, or as bookmarks. You can give dried Ranunculus as a present!
There are many ways you can go about drying Ranunculus flowers. You can air dry, microwave, frame, or press these flowers with a book, with each method having its pros and cons.
In this post, we’re going to cover how to dry Ranunculus flowers in three easy ways, so read on!
Air Drying Ranunculus Flower
Air drying is one of the oldest and most time-tested processes for drying floras. If you want a simple way to dry your Ranunculus flowers without altering their form, this is the best method.
Take note, though, that this technique, despite being simple, takes considerable time and patience. So, if you’re short on time, consider reading the other ways we’ve listed below instead.
Here are the steps to air-dry your Ranunculus bloom:
- Keep the flowers in water for an entire week before drying to absorb moisture and enhance their colors.
- Afterward, use a pair of scissors or pruning shears to cut the excess leaves and stems until you get the shape you desire.
- Make sure that the stems are at least 6 inches or longer for easy hanging.
- Once you’re done cutting, use rubber bands or wire strings to tie the ends of the stems together.
- Lastly, look for a dark, dry area with good air circulation, and hang the flowers upside down for 2-3 weeks until they’re entirely dry.
To ensure that the flowers don’t lose their colors, always check to make sure they’re not hit by sunlight. It’s best to hang them in closed spaces like a closet or an attic.
Once the blooms are dry, you can spray them with hairspray (preferably unscented) to add to their structural protection.
Using this drying method will keep the shape of the Ranunculus. The petals surrounding the core of the bloom will stay upright, and its color will be a lighter, muted shade.
Read more: How Long Do Ranunculus Last?
Drying Ranunculus Using a Microwave
Looking for a quicker way to dry Ranunculus? You can use your microwave. It’s fast, it’s straightforward, and you’ll only need a day or two to achieve a lovely dried flora for your crafts.
For this drying method, you’d need your microwave, a container, silica gel, a fine-tipped brush, and an acrylic spray. You can buy your brush and spray in craft stores near you.
Follow these steps to dry Ranunculus blooms using a microwave:
- First, use a pair of scissors or shears to cut the bloom and leaves apart from the stem.
- Look for a container that’s safe to put in the microwave and place the flower blooms and leaves inside.
- Then, gently fill the container with silica gel while being careful that the shape of the flower remains the same.
- Once done, place the uncovered vessel inside the microwave and turn it on.
- Heat for 1-2 minutes the first time, and decrease the time incrementally until your Ranunculus is paper-ish dry.
- Once they’re dried, take out the container from the microwave, half-cover it, and let it sit for a whole day.
- Finally, use your fine-tipped brush to clean the dried bloom of silica gel and spray it with acrylic for added protection.
Using this method will heavily depend on your observation and the type of flower. To make sure that your blooms don’t burn, check it once every 30 seconds after the first minute or two inside the microwave.
Ranunculus Framing or Book Pressing
Framing and book pressing, like air drying, are popular ways to preserve flora. People have been using these techniques to dry flowers for centuries!
They involve pressing the blooms between two hard surfaces to drain them of moisture. The result is flat, dry flowers.
If you’re intending to dry a considerable amount of blooms, you can order a traditional flower press. Otherwise, you can use any hard, plain surface, like two enormous books, as your drying contraption.
Here’s how to dry a Ranunculus through pressing:
- First, gather these materials: two hard and plain surfaces like cardboard, old books, newspapers, and basically anything flat and heavy.
- Then, place your flowers between two layers of paper in the shape or orientation that you want when they’re dried.
- For layered blooms like Ranunculus and roses, you can either put them on their side or in a vertical position.
- After arranging, place your hard, plain materials on either side and weigh them down with any flat, and heavy materials, like thick books.
- Finally, secure your flower press contraption and let it dry for at least two to three weeks.
Removing the dried flowers and foliage from the flower press requires care. You don’t want any petals or foliage coming off of the bloom.
After you successfully remove your dried flowers, you can either tape or glue them in a frame to display inside your house. You can place them inside shadow boxes or glass frames for better presentation as well.
Users Also Read: Anemone vs Ranunculus: What’s the Difference?
How to Care For Your Dried Ranunculus
Okay, now that you know how to dry Ranunculus, how do you make sure that they don’t wilt, mold, or disintegrate?
1. Do Not Expose Them to the Elements
There’s a reason that you can only display dried flowers inside your home. They’re delicate, and if you’re not careful, they might lose their color and shape, or worse, break down.
Always remember that they’re not fresh flowers that need sunlight, humidity, or water. Instead, you must keep them dry, in the shade, and with good ventilation.
With that in mind, it’s a good idea not to place them on your balconies, inside the toilet, or in the kitchen, as the changing temperature and humidity can damage them.
2. Apply Sealing Spray
Sealing sprays prevent the dried Ranunculus flowers from absorbing moisture. They also help avoid wrinkling and rotting, preserving their shapes and colors for a long time.
Hair Spray
Hair spray is an affordable way to preserve your prized dried flowers. To use this, lightly spray it on the petals and foliage of your pressed Ranunculus. This will provide a thin layer of finishing that’s resistant to moisture.
One thing to note, though, is that hair spray doesn’t protect the dried flowers from UV. So, you still need to keep your pressed flower frames away from direct sunlight.
Lacquer
Lacquer will give your dried flowers an attractive shine along with a layer of protection. It provides a tough finish that’s effective in preventing wrinkling and rotting.
However, if you’re aiming for a more natural-looking finish rather than the hard, shiny, almost plastic look that lacquer gives, this sealing method is not for you.
Acrylic Spray
If you want something that protects your dried Ranunculus while also preserving its natural colors, the acrylic spray is the ultimate pick. Artists even use it for paper and canvas art.
For best results, use professional-grade acrylic to coat your pressed flowers several times. It will provide a permanent, sunlight-proof seal finish that protects the natural colors and shapes of your flowers.
Final Thoughts
Whether for personal, sentimental, or creative purposes, drying flowers is a fun craft that you can try your hand at.
In this post, we explained how to dry Ranunculus flowers in a few different methods. You can dry them through air drying, microwaving, framing, or book pressing.
Finally, to protect your dried Ranunculus, you can use seal sprays like hair spray, lacquer, or artist’s acrylic spray.
Happy crafting!