Preserve Flowers the BEST Way Possible! Use Silica Gel!

[@FirstDayofHome]

I have timestamps that answer the questions I get asked the most about silica gel. You can also check out this video with 5 ways to dry flowers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/on3KoZp6lN2NsLc

[@gabbybeach]

Thank you so much for the video!

[@gabbybeach]

Do you know if the flowers last for a long time? I heard they still die after a few weeks

[@FirstDayofHome]

@gabbybeach You’re very welcome!

[@FirstDayofHome]

The flowers will last a long time but may fade somewhat, especially if they are exposed to direct sunlight. They are preserved, so they’re already dead after drying with silica gel. It won’t look alive after drying. It will look crisp like a dried flower but has better color retention than other drying methods.

[@gabbybeach]

@@FirstDayofHome okay! Thank you sooo much! I greatly appreciate it.

[@michelle-vandesande]

Thanks so much for the inspiration and the very detailed instructions. My niece wanted me to do something with her wedding bouquet, but I had no idea what…until I watched your video. I was able to create a beautiful keepsake for her❣️

[@FirstDayofHome]

That makes me so happy to hear! Thanks for the kind compliment, and congrats to your niece. I hope she enjoys the keepsake. 😊

[@LouisCarterChange]

Who loves flowers preserved with silica gel explained by Crissy from First Day at Home and has two thumbs? (me pointing at myself with my thumbs) - THIS GUY!

[@FirstDayofHome]

😄 Ha! Thanks, Lou! I appreciate the support and positive energy!

[@vangieperez6229]

Oh, my, Crissy! What lovely results you had preserving your niece's bouquet! It will be a treasured keepsake. I can't wait to preserve my next flower arrangement. Thanks for your step by step instructions.

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thanks, Vangie! I hope you can enjoy your flowers for many years to come. Thanks for leaving a sweet comment!

[@jerridyke68]

Very detailed video. Thank you @FirstDayofHome!

[@FirstDayofHome]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching. 🌺

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

Lovely! I just watched a video from Soil and Margaritas. She made an amazing piece of art with flowers from her garden dried with silica gel. So I've been down a rabbit hole on youtube and drying flowers with silica gel 😁. Hope your niece enjoyed having this shadowbox arrangement.

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thank you! Yes, KZbin can be a rabbit hole.😄 I’ll have to check out the other silica gel video you mentioned. Thanks for stopping by!

[@KerryWagner-tu2th]

You gave me some excellent ideas. I loved watching the video. The shadow box you did for your niece was beautiful!

[@FirstDayofHome]

I’m so glad to hear that, Kerry! I hope you enjoy experimenting with it.

[@Flowerpreservationartist]

Did you seal shadowbox? Do you. Need to add extra seal coat th the flowers to keep them from shading from uv?

[@FirstDayofHome]

No, I didn't seal the shadow box. I personally don't add any sealer to the flowers, but you could use a fixative like hairspray or a dried flower sealer like this one: amzn.to/48JTPHq. I hope this helps!

[@LisaDoire]

Do you spray them with anything once dried?

[@FirstDayofHome]

I personally don’t, but it some people like using hair spray or a fixative for preserved flowers. Some of the fixative sprays have mixed reviews, so I’ve never used them.

[@madiaz95]

Hi, after the silica gel, do you need to apply something to the flowers? I read that sometimes is good to put some hairspray on them.

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hi Maria! Yes, you can apply a fixative like hair spray to help the flowers maintain their shape. I don’t usually add anything to mine, but I’m hoping to make a video showing a comparison soon.

[@yazminhernandez253]

Do we put flowers into silica gel straight from water vase? Or take them out of water for a dew days before placing on silica gel?

[@FirstDayofHome]

You can put them in silica gel right away as long as the blossoms are not wet. You want your preserve them as close to their peak bloom as possible before they start wilting or turning brown.

[@Maylo-no1]

Sry for asking but I tried to dry the rose in the silica sand and microwave for 2.5 minutes , but it didn’t work and the rose became so loose , it can’t hold its shape anymore ?

[@FirstDayofHome]

I would try a deeper dish to see if you can surround the rose with silica gel on all sides. That will help it to keep its shape. Try the non-microwave method to see if you like it better too. It may take 5-7 days for roses to dry with the traditional method, but the flowers may keep their shape better. Sometimes the microwave method is better for petals or smaller flowers.

[@cherbunce]

Thanks for the video, I have been leaving my flowers in the gel for a lot longer, do you think this will change the colour/texture if they are left for 3-4 weeks inside the gel? Also what do you have any advice as to whether they should be sprayed afterwards with anything as like a sealant or protector to increase their life?

[@FirstDayofHome]

I have found that sometimes the flowers get more brittle if they are left in the gel for longer than 7-10 days or so. It depends on the type of flower and how loose the petals are. I would rather leave them in too long than not try at all, though. I don’t usually spray them, but I know you can buy a floral fixative spray that is supposed to help maintain the color. I don’t bother because I like the natural aging look.

[@nick_556]

I understand not using the same tubberware for silica gel and food but is that not a worry for recharging it in the oven that you also use for food?

[@FirstDayofHome]

I don’t worry about it in the oven because it’s not touching anything that will later come into contact with food. I use foil pans to recharge in the oven, and I only use those with silica gel. That said, you should only do it if you’re comfortable with the product. I always follow the manufacturer directions. The reason I don’t use the plastic for food afterwards is because the plastic can absorb pesticides that might be in some flowers if you buy them in a store.

[@antoinetteantenucci2090]

thanks for that video. do you have a video to then go from silicon gel dry to setting in a resin epoxy?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thanks for watching! I do not have a video on that yet, but I’d like to do one! I’ll keep you posted.

[@girlfromtaprobane]

Hey Crissy thank you for the video❤ I tried drying some flowers and they were dried well but once i stored them they got floppy, what could be the reason?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hello! I'm glad you gave it a try! I suspect there was still some moisture in the center of the flowers when you stored them. One trick is to add a small amount of silica gel to your container when you store them or let the flowers sit out a few days before storing them. If there's a lot of humidity where you live, that can also cause them to get moist again. I hope this helps! (P.S. Those small silica gel packets that come with some packaged products are helpful to add to your storage containers too.)

[@proudtbnanna]

Love you video. Super clear directions ! You’ve helped me tremendously!

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thanks so much! I’m glad it was helpful!

[@pamelarodriguez3091]

My flowers dried on their own on a vase, they have been in the water for 3 weeks. Can I still do the silica gel or should I just place them in the shadow box? FYI I don't want to pressed them.

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hi Pamela. If the flowers are fairly dry already, you won't benefit as much from using silica gel. Silica gel works best when the flowers are still soft and have some of their original color. I hope this helps you make a decision. You may want to grab some silica gel for next time, though! 😊

[@pamelarodriguez3091]

@@FirstDayofHome Thank you! So basically it is best to discard them. Or would they last a few on the shadow box?

[@FirstDayofHome]

@pamelarodriguez3091 Oh you can definitely still keep them in a shadow box. They may look more vintage, but I’m sure they would still be meaningful to you and worth keeping.

[@crissycarter1348]

Thank you - great, instructive video! I also love that floral watch band you are wearing!

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thanks so much! That watch band was a Mother’s Day gift from last year.😊 I think it’s from Rifle Paper Co.

[@emilyj8831]

Hello so I have my flowers currently drying in my Sylica sand we have an acrylic box to place them in I was going to stand them up in some polyurethane so they would stand out in the box how long do you think they will last and is there anything I can spray them with to help preserve them ? The box has a lid and it won’t be in direct sunlight it will be on a sideboard under the stairs as a memorial x

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear you might've lost someone you're memorializing. I hope your display will turn out well. I personally don't add any sealer to my flowers, but you could use a fixative like hairspray or a dried flower sealer like this one: amzn.to/48JTPHq. In terms of how long they might last, it really depends. They could last decades but may fade over time and look more "vintage". I hope this helps!

[@emilyj8831]

@@FirstDayofHome thank you so much for your help x

[@FirstDayofHome]

@@emilyj8831 You're very welcome!

[@lif3liv3r]

Hi! Hope you still check comments! At 5:58 you pull out a container of preserved flowers and there are some wonderful looking baby's breath in there.. Did you preserve those ones with silica gel also? If so, I assume just laid flat in the container and put the gel on top? Would it hurt to do that but a few layers of it (since they are fairly flat)? I am trying so hard to find a way to preserve baby's breath without them yellowing in the stem/bud slightly.

[@FirstDayofHome]

Yep, I still check comments daily. 😊 I believe I dried that baby’s breath naturally, just air drying the stems upside down. You could definitely dry them in silica gel also, but the buds are so small I usually don’t worry about a little yellowing. Happy flower drying!

[@lif3liv3r]

@@FirstDayofHome Thank you!!!

[@FirstDayofHome]

@lif3liv3r Any time!

[@jujunaj]

Thanks for the tutorial, can’t wait to try the silica gel technique! Can I leave the stems on the roses? (I’ll trim a little)

[@FirstDayofHome]

Great! Yes, the stems will be fine. The only thing you’ll want to consider is if the flower can be in the silica gel facing up instead of on the side. It will look prettier that way. Good luck!

[@eloisasanchez8388]

Love this!! I just received 2 dozen roses for Valentines from my boyfriend and automatically want to preserve them. What product did you use to glue/attach the roses in the shadow box?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Yay! I’m glad you’ll be able to try this! My shadow box had pretty push pins, so I used those and then just let the other small flowers rest around the pinned flowers.

[@julies5085]

Pretty . Can we use regular sand?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thank you. No, sand won’t work the same as silica gel. I have the product linked in the video description if you need help finding it. Enjoy!

[@Sile-k3m]

Hi, I want to dry and press poinsettia petals., I haven't tried silica gel crystals. I want the petals to be flat, not curling on the edges and I want them to retain that bright red color as much as possible. They seem to have more moisture in them. I wouldn't mind if they turned a wine color but not brown. I want to know how you might do it? Help!!

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hi! If you want the petals to be flat, I'd suggest pressing the flower. I would expect the color to change to a deep wine, but honestly, you won't know until you try. You could try book pressing a few flowers and microwave pressing others to compare. Have you seen this video showing 5 ways to dry flowers? It might help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/on3KoZp6lN2NsLcsi=KaIRlMWJ6skjUI8S

[@Sile-k3m]

yes I pressed and got a wine color. I've tried book pressing in both paper towel and parchment. I will try the microwave and watch the video. Thanks for your help!

[@FirstDayofHome]

@user-yd2br1kg1n No problem! Good luck to you!

[@dianne.c]

For a regular size bouquet, how much silical gel do you usually use?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hi Dianne! I would think about whether you want to preserve every flower in the bouquet or just a good representation in terms of your final display. Do you plan to display it in a shadow box or something similar? I personally like to get a good mix of the bouquet flowers but not try to preserve every single bloom. You may want to go with an 8 lb bag or at least 5 lbs of silica gel. Just keep in mind you’ll want multiple containers to fit all of those flowers. Here’s the 8lb bag: amzn.to/3MDgyfl

[@VanessaMiracle]

How do you know when a flower is fully done drying in silica gel?

[@FirstDayofHome]

You can gently remove the flower and check the center to see if it still has moisture. If it's not done, just cover it with the gel again and close the container. When the flower is done drying, it will be crisp and the petals won't bend. In my experience, it usually takes 3-5 days to dry depending on how thick the center is. I hope this helps!

[@ajateez9320]

Hi! This was a great video. I got into preserving flowers after receiving 3 bouquets from my boyfriend. The first one I pressed. The next 2 I used silica gel like in this vid. The white roses dried off beautifully white, but after placing them in a shadow box noticed they started to turn brownish. The pink roses first dried off mostly yellowish with pink tips, but on day 7 everything is yellow. May I ask for some tips on what I should watch out for the next time? I’m not sure if I overdrowned the flowers or did I overdry them. They were definitely away from sunlight and I sprayed them with hairspray after drying. Thank you!

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hi! I’m sorry to hear about your experience. Light colored flowers may have some yellowing over time. It could also be that some of the flowers weren’t fully dried especially if they have thick centers. I hope this helps! Don’t give up on experimenting more!

[@kimabeno]

Hey there! Is it possible to press the flowers after drying them out with silica gel? Or would they be too fragile?😮

[@FirstDayofHome]

I think they would be too fragile. I generally pick one method or the other. If the face of the flowers are fairly flat, I press them. For roses and flowers that have layers of petals, I like using silica gel. Hope that helps!

[@kimabeno]

@@FirstDayofHome Oh I see. This is my first attempt with silica gel but are the petals crumbly once dry?

[@FirstDayofHome]

@kimabeno Yes, I would say they are fragile. Sometimes petals may slip out if you move them around or shake them too hard. You can reattach any loose petals with acid-free glue if you need to. I even use hot glue sometimes if it won’t show.

[@kimabeno]

@@FirstDayofHome Thank you so much for the tips! I'm excited how they'll turn out😚

[@FirstDayofHome]

@kimabeno I’m excited for you to try! If at first you don’t succeed, try again. It takes a little trial and error to find out what works for your flowers. I hope you enjoy the process. 😊

[@gurpreetkataria3752]

I dried the double shade flower pink and white and when i am poured resin on dried flowers it turned as yellow. What am i doing wrong? Pls suggest how to keep the pinkish tone of the flowers

[@FirstDayofHome]

Sorry to hear that. Perhaps the flower wasn’t completely dried when you poured the resin? If it had a thick center, that could be the problem.

[@redgzmonsalud4351]

Is the silica gel reusable to dry more flowers?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Yes, please see the clip starting at 7:50. I cover all the details you need to know there.

[@LianeSeca]

@@FirstDayofHomehi, question. What if the microwave is out of use? Is there any other ways to recycle silica gel?

[@FirstDayofHome]

@LianeSeca You don’t use a microwave to recharge the crystals. You need a conventional oven (like what you would bake in). I talk about the details at the end of the video, but the manufacturer will have instructions when you buy the product too. This product is my favorite: amzn.to/3WyFKYD

[@merriamaquisio4324]

is it ok to use toaster oven instead of the microwave?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hi! I suggest you check out this video which has instructions for drying flowers in an oven. I would not use silica gel in the oven, but you can dry the flowers in the oven as shown in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/on3KoZp6lN2NsLc.

[@jodyjennings8472]

Can I leave the stems on so I can put the arrangement back together?

[@FirstDayofHome]

You can, but it’s typically easier to remove the bloom and then reattach the stem with floral wire after drying. The stem doesn’t need the silica gel as it will dry out naturally, and it takes up a lot of unnecessary space in your container.

[@jodyjennings8472]

@@FirstDayofHome Thankyou for for the tip, that's a great idea. 👍😊

[@FirstDayofHome]

@@jodyjennings8472 You're welcome! Good luck!

[@agedashicheddar3365]

hi, love your video! just what I was looking for :) does this method also work for preserving moss? thank you!

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thank you! That’s a great question. Honestly I would just air dry moss. I think maintaining the color is less critical since moss naturally has a nice vintage brown or taupe tone. You could punch holes in a paper bag and place the moss inside to let it dry and get some airflow. Good luck!

[@inameicucme]

I followed your instructions to dry my bouquet. Question: Do the colors of the dry flowers fade over time once they have been placed in the shadow box?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Yes, they may fade slightly over time. That happens with any drying method, though silica gel will help keep the color for longer. For the best results, try to keep your shadow box away from direct sunlight. I hope this helps! Congrats by the way!

[@inameicucme]

Thank you Crissy💖

[@learnmauritiancreole9337]

does this not cause Lung Silicosis?

[@FirstDayofHome]

I wouldn’t be recommending products that I believe are dangerous when used appropriately (i.e., following the manufacturer’s safety instructions), but you should only use this product if you feel comfortable. I would suggest reading more about silica gel before deciding whether you feel it’s harmful. It’s the same substance widely used in packaged goods like shoes and clothing to absorb moisture. I share many other methods for drying flowers if you prefer to try a different technique. Here’s a video with more options: kzbin.info/www/bejne/on3KoZp6lN2NsLcsi=nEZqVfqdqJr6ltP-

[@learnmauritiancreole9337]

@@FirstDayofHome Thank u dear

[@saundrahaddix8330]

I beam this to my tv but a non removable add blocked the video 😢

[@FirstDayofHome]

That’s weird! I don’t have control over that, but I’m wondering if it’s a KZbin TV thing? On YT, usually there are ads that roll and you just skip once it’s done.

[@JennyNguyen24]

I tried this a couple of days ago. While the silica gel did dry the flowers, the flowers are starting to become damp after I stored it in a container. Am I doing something wrong?

[@FirstDayofHome]

Hi Jenny. How many days did you leave them in silica gel? My guess is that the flowers weren't completely dry when you put them in the container. If it's very humid, that may cause flowers to stay moist in the center, especially flowers with thick centers like roses. You could try placing them in silica gel again for a few days to let them dry out more. I hope this helps!

[@JennyNguyen24]

@@FirstDayofHome Hi! I left them in the silica gel for 4 days and they were very dry. I’ll try drying them more. Thank you!

[@FirstDayofHome]

@@JennyNguyen24 I hope that works for you. Sometimes those center petals can be hard to dry fully. Best of luck!

[@DawnSaleh]

❤❤

[@FirstDayofHome]

Thank you!😊