Roses, with their captivating beauty and sweet fragrance, have captivated our hearts for centuries. These exquisite blooms hold a special place in our gardens and our affections, making them the perfect candidates for preservation.

Pressing roses is an art as old as time itself, a way to capture their timeless charm and create lasting memories. While roses are one of the more complicated flowers to press due to their thick stems and cores, you can still preserve them to enjoy their beauty longer.

The best way to preserve roses is to press them using a flower press. Follow the steps below to learn how to press roses using a flower press.

What is a Flower Press?

Flower pressing is a beautiful and delicate art that involves preserving the natural beauty of flowers and leaves through gentle flattening that removes all traces of moisture.

There are many different methods for pressing flowers, but the classic flower press remains the preferred choice for achieving the best results.

A standard flower press is made up of layers of cardboard that are carefully arranged between two wooden plates and securely fastened together with bolts. This timeless tool has its roots in the Victorian era, when it played a crucial role in preserving and cataloguing botanical specimens.

Even in modern times, flower presses continue to serve as guardians of cherished floral memories and invaluable tools for crafting beautiful botanical creations.

If you’ve never tried flower pressing before, why not start today by learning how to press roses? With a little bit of patience and practice, you can create stunning pieces of art that capture the fleeting beauty of nature.

Whether you’re an experienced crafter or just starting out, a flower press is an essential tool that will help you achieve beautiful results every time. So why not give it a try and see where your creativity takes you?

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How to Press Roses: What Colour Roses Should I Press?

You can press roses of any colour, and the choice of colour depends on your personal preference and the effect you want to achieve in your pressed flower projects. Each rose colour can evoke different emotions and aesthetics, so here are some considerations.

Red Roses: Red roses symbolise love and passion. Pressed red roses can create romantic and dramatic floral arrangements or be used in love-themed crafts.

Pink Roses: Pink roses represent gratitude, admiration, and sweetness. Pressed pink roses can add a delicate and charming touch to your projects, particularly in soft and feminine designs.

White Roses: White roses symbolise purity, innocence, and new beginnings. Pressed white roses are versatile and can be used in a wide range of projects, including weddings and other special occasions.

Yellow Roses: Yellow roses symbolise friendship, joy, and happiness. Pressed yellow roses can bring a cheerful and sunny vibe to your pressed flower creations.

Orange Roses: Orange roses represent enthusiasm and passion. Pressed orange roses can add warmth and energy to your projects, making them suitable for vibrant and dynamic designs.

Lavender or Purple Roses: Lavender and purple roses symbolise enchantment and love at first sight. Pressed lavender or purple roses can create a sense of mystique and elegance in your artwork.

Multi-coloured Roses: If you have access to roses with multiple colours or variegated petals, pressing them can result in unique and visually striking pressed flowers that add diversity to your projects.

Ultimately, the colour choice should align with your creative vision and the theme of your project. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different rose colours to discover how they can best complement your artistic endeavours.

How to Press Roses

There are three ways to press roses. You can press the flowers with the stems, flower heads, or petals. Smaller roses are much easier to press, but it’s not impossible to press larger ones. You just need to be more patient when pressing roses with a thicker base and stem. Follow the steps below to learn how to press roses using a flower press.

How to Press Rose Flower Heads

To press the head of the flower, cut the stem off as close to the base of the flower without letting it fall apart.
Holding the rose upright, gently remove any unsightly outer petals and fluff the remaining petals out so that they are spread apart for easier pressing. Be careful not to bruise any of the petals during this process.
Turn the flower head over and gently place it face down onto the flower press ensuring all the petals are pushing away from the flower’s centre.
Put the press back together and tighten the bolts until it’s firm. Leave the press in a dry spot out of direct sunlight for two to three weeks.

How to Press Roses with Their Stems

Remove all or most of the leaves from the stem. You can keep one or two on if desired but ensure they don’t touch the flower head when placed flat on a surface.
Holding the rose upright, gently remove any unsightly outer petals and fluff the remaining petals out so that they are spread apart for easier pressing. Be careful not to bruise any of the petals during this process.
Larger roses can be carefully cut in half using a sharp knife and scissors, and each half can be pressed.
Place the rose down on the flower press, ensuring it’s in the centre of the board. Longer roses might have to be positioned at a diagonal angle.
Put the press back together and tighten the bolts until it’s firm. Leave the press in a dry spot out of direct sunlight for two to three weeks.

How to Press Rose Petals

Holding the rose upright, gently pluck the petal from the flower head. To avoid tearing the petals, pull each one from the base of the petal where it connects to the flower head instead of the top of the petal. Be careful not to bruise any of the petals during this process.
Place each petal on the flower press boards, ensuring none overlapping.
Put the press back together and tighten the bolts until it’s firm. Leave the press in a dry spot out of direct sunlight for two to three weeks.

5 Quick Tips on How To Press Roses

Orange and yellow roses usually hold their colour well, whereas pink and purple roses fade quicker, but red roses and white roses tend to turn brown over time. When pressing white and red roses, place the flower press in the refrigerator as this will help retain the colour and prevent it from going brown.
Choose roses that are fresh and newly opened.
Instead of pressing the whole flower, gently pick off the petals and press them instead.
Larger roses can be cut in half using a sharp knife and scissors, and each half can be pressed.
Speed up the drying process by selectively removing some of the petals from the flower head.

Remember, patience is key when pressing roses. Enjoy the process and the timeless beauty of your pressed floral creations.

Photos by Emily from @emilygetslost on Instagram.