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Using Desiccant

For flowers with petals, leaves, ferns, fungi, and some varieties of mosses, the best way to preserve them is to use a desiccant powder. A desiccant is a substance which absorbs moisture. It speeds the drying process, especially when used in a dehydrator, preserving vibrant colors and delicate structure of the flower. The longer the drying process, the more colors will fade. Using a desiccant in your dehydrator will allow flowers to dry in a day instead of a week or two. There are several brands of flower desiccants available from craft stores. They may seem a little expensive, but can be reused indefinitely. Silica gel is the generic name and absorbs up to 50% of its own weight in moisture. Use perfect flowers, fresh and free of moisture. Yellows and blues maintain their color better than reds or whites.

• Remove stems from flowers and insert a short 20-gauge stub wire. (Add a longer stem when arranging later.)
• Place 1/2" desiccant in bottom of containers that are no higher than 3-1/4".
• Place flat-faced flower face-down, with petals resting easily on the sand. Rounded double flowers such as roses and daffodils should be dried with their heads upwards. Flowers which are trumpet or bell-shaped should be laid on their sides.
• Gently sprinkle desiccant between the flowers and into every petal and crevice, with about 1/2" desiccant covering the top. Do not cover. When desiccant drying is done outside of the dehydrator, containers should be covered. [assuming this step is BAD and poisonous for shrooms or anything intended to be eaten, maybe put it above or below it somehow, or guarded by some kind of paper towel?]
• Place containers on the dehydrator tray. Place lid on top of dryer and plug in dehydrator. Most flowers will be totally dry in 24 hours or less.
• To test dryness, gently scrape back of the desiccantand remove one flower. Hold the flower to your ear and give it a gentle tap. If it is dry, it will sound crisp and papery.
• Remove remaining flowers by carefully pouring off desiccant, letting it fall slowly through your fingers, catching each flower and carefully removing it by its stem. Stand preserved flowers in a block of flower foam until arranged.
• Store in airtight tins until ready to use. In humid climates, protect loose-petal flowers with a light application of finishing spray to prevent moisture absorption.

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RottenFruit said:

Also, when I got a sack from him he added some desiccant in the plastic bag...didn't hurt anything.  The desiccant was in it's own bag, of course, that stuff is poisonous, isn't it?

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Silica Gel is not poisonous, Silica Gel is non-toxic. Silica Gel packaged in cotton or a cotton fabrics is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and meets FDA requirements to be used in dry food packaging.

A little known fact for you, FDA allows manufactures to use up to 2% of Silica Gel as an anti-caking agent in salt, seasonings or curing mixtures.

Ok, now my legal statement. I strongly discourage and do not recommend eating Silica Gel (why would you want to anyway, trying to clinch your thirst?), Do Not Eat!

churchofzoom said:

Hey there dryness,

You have quite a few products on your webpage in your sig, what would you recommend for someone researching a large amount of biological things growing for the purpose of microscopy?

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This thread is almost 11 years old. That guy has 15 posts total, this one was from 9+ years ago and you're gonna send him your money based on an ad (that shouldn't be there) in his signature?



If you just wanna give away money for nothing, I have Paypal and can take cryptos. I will send you the finest nothing you've ever seen.