How to preserve bright gerberas using a flower press

Gerberas are not only a garden favourite, loved for their bright colours and cheery blooms that sit high on upright stems, but they also preserve well when pressed in a flower press. If you have gerberas growing in your garden, eternalise your beautiful homegrown blooms by learning how to preserve them in a flower press.

A Giant Flower Press is best to use for preserving special memories and eternalising flowers and foliage for larger craft projects. Its larger surface area means you can press more blooms at one time and fit larger flowers in the press like gerberas, hibiscus, and roses.

How to preserve gerberas using a flower press

Preserving gerberas in a flower press is quick and easy to do and will provide you with a collection of bright and beautiful dried blooms to use for a range of craft projects. Follow the steps below to learn how to preserve gerberas using a flower press.

What you need:

• Scissors
• Gerbera flowers
• Plain paper
• Flower press

Method:

1. If you’re picking flowers from your garden, pick them at the warmest part of the day. If your gerberas are a bit damp, blot off any residual dew and leave to dry.
2. If you want to press the gerbera flower heads, carefully cut the stem at the top near the flower head. If you want to press your gerberas with the stems on, leave them as they are.
3. Place a sheet of plain paper on your flower press cardboard inserts before arranging your flowers face down on the flower press. Ensure none of the flowers are overlapping or touching one another. Place another sheet of plain paper on top of the flowers and put your flower press back together.
4. Leave your flower press for two to three weeks in a dry place away from direct sunlight. You can check on your pressed flowers every few days to see how they’re drying.
5. Once pressed, you can use your pressed gerberas to decorate cards or display in a frame.

Handy tips:

• Moisture can cause mildew and mould to grow on your dried flowers. Avoid displaying or storing your dried flowers in an area that is subjected to moisture.
• Direct sunlight and bright lights will fade your pressed flowers.
• Spray dried flowers with a clear acrylic spray to preserve them and make them last longer.

How flowers get their colours