Very artistic and unique. Love it!
Finally... Phragmipedium humboltii in spike!
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Michael Bonda
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I have tried drying and preserving the flowers of my favorite, Schroederae, with no success. If you have any tricks to preserve (I am not artistic so cannot draw or paint to preserve the image) I would appreciate the advice. Thx
Thanks all for the nice comments.
The following is the method I use to dry flowers:
1. First I let the flowers dry on the inflorescence until that are about to fall off or even fall off in this case. The flowers must be still a little soft but mostly dried, so that you can manipulate the parts without breaking.
2. Then lay the flowers on paper towel (in this case a long piece of Bounty paper as Rich pointed out lol) to soak in the rest of the moisture. Lay them as you would compose them in a painting. Here I put each flower to create the look I wanted ... ie 3 facing each other at different height. A flat surface in a dry room without draft is best. You won't move them until whole process is done.
3. You will need to move floral parts around gently to compressed the jutting parts like the pouch and dorsal sepal. Lay the long petals as straight as possible or in positions you want because once dried they are immovable without breaking (I know because I broke my sanderianum petals years ago).
4. Then when you have compose the 'look', put another piece of bounty over them, making sure the jutting parts is positioned to dry that way. You might need to check twice to make sure it is in position.
5. Then lay a very light cardboard paper or a few envelopes on top of the upper layer of bounty to flatten gently the 'jutting' pieces. Then everyday add a little heavier until flat. This may take 2-5 days to dry flat.
6. Check daily by lifting the paper towel to see if drying well or flatten enough. Within a week, you get the 'art'!
7. The entire paper towel sandwich is stored between two pieces of cardboard (cut to match art piece, bigger about 1-2 cm around the edges) in a dry area like a bookshelf to be enjoyed later. Slide the whole piece gently onto the bottom cardboard while horizontal to prevent falling or bending and ruining the composition. Then cover top with cardboard. Use wide paper clips to hold card close on all sides to keep parts from sliding and moving. This way you can store vertically or on sides.
Hope this makes sense
.Good luck and have fun!
Michael Bonda
Well-Known Member
Thank you. Makes perfect sense.Thanks all for the nice comments.
The following is the method I use to dry flowers:
1. First I let the flowers dry on the inflorescence until that are about to fall off or even fall off in this case. The flowers must be still a little soft but mostly dried, so that you can manipulate the parts without breaking.
2. Then lay the flowers on paper towel (in this case a long piece of Bounty paper as Rich pointed out lol) to soak in the rest of the moisture. Lay them as you would compose them in a painting. Here I put each flower to create the look I wanted ... ie 3 facing each other at different height. A flat surface in a dry room without draft is best. You won't move them until whole process is done.
3. You will need to move floral parts around gently to compressed the jutting parts like the pouch and dorsal sepal. Lay the long petals as straight as possible or in positions you want because once dried they are immovable without breaking (I know because I broke my sanderianum petals years ago).
4. Then when you have compose the 'look', put another piece of bounty over them, making sure the jutting parts is positioned to dry that way. You might need to check twice to make sure it is in position.
5. Then lay a very light cardboard paper or a few envelopes on top of the upper layer of bounty to flatten gently the 'jutting' pieces. Then everyday add a little heavier until flat. This may take 2-5 days to dry flat.
6. Check daily by lifting the paper towel to see if drying well or flatten enough. Within a week, you get the 'art'!
7. The entire paper towel sandwich is stored between two pieces of cardboard (cut to match art piece, bigger about 1-2 cm around the edges) in a dry area like a bookshelf to be enjoyed later. Slide the whole piece gently onto the bottom cardboard while horizontal to prevent falling or bending and ruining the composition. Then cover top with cardboard. Use wide paper clips to hold card close on all sides to keep parts from sliding and moving. This way you can store vertically or on sides.
Hope this makes sense
Good luck and have fun!
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Thanx for taking the time to share all that... i'll have to give it a try.... especially with some of the longer petalled red phrags.
