Dry Sunflowers

You can dry sunflowers to use as decorations or keepsakes, or you can also dry them for the seeds or for the petals. The process is a little different depending on the reason you want to dry the sunflowers.

Steps

Air Dry Sunflowers for Decorations or Keepsakes

1. Harvest partially open sunflowers. If you intend to dry sunflowers for decorative purposes, it is better to use small to medium sized sunflowers that have only just begun to open. The seeds have not fully developed, so they should not fall out after being dried.
   • Cut the stem off at the length you want. Note, however, that you should have at least 4 inches (10 cm) of stem, if not more, since you will need to attach twine to these stems in a later step.
2. Bundle the sunflowers together. Tie the sunflowers together in groups of three using thick kitchen twine. Make sure that the heads do not touch.
3. Hang upside down until dry. Keep the sunflowers in a dry, cool, and dark spot for several weeks until the flowers have completely dried out.
   • Make sure that the area gets plenty of airflow to prevent mold or other fungi from growing.
   • The flower petals should unfurl as the sunflowers dry out.
   • When dried in this manner, sunflowers can last for several weeks to several months during the fall.

Alternate Way to Dry Sunflowers for Decorations or Keepsakes

1. Choose small to medium sunflowers. Small, partially open sunflowers that have not fully matured are a better option than large, mature sunflowers since the seeds have not fully developed. As a result, the seed-filled center will not dry out and lose its seeds after being dried.
   • This method will help preserve the natural color of the sunflowers better than a standard air-dry method will. It is also thought to preserve the dried flowers even longer.
2. Combine borax and white cornmeal. Combine three parts borax with seven parts white cornmeal, stirring well to combine thoroughly.
   • Both borax and cornmeal act as drying agents. The combination helps draw the moisture out of an away from the sunflower.
3. Cover the flowers with the dust. Coat the sunflowers in the cornmeal and borax mixture, focusing especially on the cut stems and any notably moist portion of the flower.
   • If possible, place the cut sunflowers in a box and cover them with 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of this mixture instead of merely coating them lightly. The more mixture you use, the more effective the drying out process will be.
   • Place this box in a cool dry place and do not disturb it for 10 to 15 days.
4. Let dry. Place in a dark, dry location for a couple of weeks. Once dry, carefully dust off any remaining cornmeal and borax before using the sunflowers for decorative purposes.
   • Most of the mixture should come off if you simply give the flowers a gently shake. If necessary, lightly brush your fingertips over the sunflowers to help remove the excess. Do not brush roughly or with an artificial tool, though, since the sunflowers are more fragile now and more likely to break against force.

Drying Sunflowers for Seeds

1. Allow the sunflowers to mature in the ground. As long as the weather is still warm and dry, you should let the sunflowers reach full maturity while still growing. If possible, do not cut the flower heads off before the back turns yellow-brown.
   • Ideally, you should wait until the sunflower loses its petals and the head droops. You might need to tie the flower head to a stake as it begins to die back, though, since the head will become heavier and the plant will begin to weaken under its own weight.
2. Protect with cheesecloth. Wrap cheesecloth around the flower heads and tie with kitchen twine. Doing so will protect the seeds from birds and squirrels.
   • Instead of cheesecloth, you could use a paper bag tied on with a rubber band. Either way, the material should be tied on at the base of the head and the seeds should be protected.
   • Wait until after the flower starts to die back before covering the flower head.
   • Also note that the bag can help catch seeds that dry and fall off during the drying process.
3. Cut the sunflower stem at an angle. If you need to cut the flower heads off early due to pests or climate, cut off about 1 foot (30.5 cm) of the stem along with it.
4. Hang to dry. Hang the sunflowers upside down in a dry, dark spot for several weeks, or until the back of the flower head turns completely brown.
   • Even if you bring the sunflower in early, you should still cover it with cheesecloth or a paper bag to collect the seeds and to protect those seeds against any small animals that may find their way into the shed or garage you decide to keep it in.
5. Remove seeds after several weeks. Once the flowers have completely dried, you should be able to remove the seeds simply by brushing them off with your fingers or with a stiff brush.
   • If you have multiple sunflowers, you can also remove the seeds by rubbing two different sunflower heads together.

Drying Sunflower Petals the Traditional Way

1. Collect the petals. Choose a sunflower with bright, undamaged petals and pluck these petals off one by one using your fingers.
2. Place the petals in between sheets of blotting paper. Keep a layer or two of blotting paper above and below the petals. Place these sheets of paper, with the sunflower petals still inside, in between to pieces of stiff cardboard.
   • If you do not have blotting paper, you could use tracing paper, parchment paper, or clean paper towels, instead. None of these options will work quite as well as blotting paper, but they are decent alternatives.
   • Make sure that the petals do not touch one another. If they touch or overlap, they may end up sticking together, and you could cause the petals to break when you attempt to peel them apart.
3. Put pressure on the flower petals. Place the petals-filled pieces of cardboard underneath a stack of books or other heavy object.
   • Alternatively, you can create an even more secure flower press with a few layers of cardboard and wooden press boards. If you do so, you will not need to place the petals beneath a heavy stack of books, and you can move the structure around as needed while the petals dry out.
     • Place cardboard or padded board below the blotting paper sandwich securing the petals and a second padded board above it.
     • Place a third padded board on top of the others.
     • Sandwich everything between two wooden press boards and hold the pressing structure together with rubber bands.
4. Let dry for several weeks. Press the sunflower petals for a few weeks, disturbing them as little as possible during the process.
   • When you do check the petals after two or three weeks, remove the cardboard and blotting paper carefully and pick the petals up gently. If the petals still feel moist, lay out new blotting paper and continue pressing them for another few days to another week before checking again.

Drying Sunflower Petals the Quick Way

1. Collect the petals. Choose sunflowers with brightly colored, undamaged petals. Use your fingers to pluck the petals off one at a time until you have as many petals as you want.
2. Place in between paper towels. Lay out two sheets of paper towel on a microwave-safe plate. Arrange the petals in a single layer on top of these paper towels, then place another two sheets of clean paper towel on top of the petals.
   • The paper towels will wick away the moisture released by the sunflower petals as you microwave them.
   • It is important that you keep the petals in a single layer. If you layer them together, there is some chance that they may end up sticking together or breaking apart when you try to separate them.
3. Microwave until dry. Microwave the petals on high power for 20 to 40 seconds, or until the petals completely dry out.
   • Check the sunflower petals after the first 20 seconds. If they still fill damp, continue microwaving them in 10 second intervals until they feel dry. Do not let the petals become crisp, though.
   • Dry the plates and switch out the paper towels in between batches. You could also let the paper towels sit out for a few minutes to let them dry instead of using new paper towels.
   • You should let the petals rest on your paper towels for several hours before you use them, for crafting purposes or otherwise. Doing so can help preserve them longer.

Things You'll Need

Air Drying Whole

• Twine
• Garden shears

Alternate Whole Drying

• Borax
• White cornmeal
• Covered box
• Garden shears

Drying for Seeds

• Garden shears
• Cheesecloth or paper bags
• Kitchen twine
• Coarse brush

Drying Petals

• Blotting paper
• Cardboard
• Wooden press board or heavy stack of books

Quick-Drying Petals

• Microwave-safe plate
• Paper towels

Sources and Citations

See also

• Pick Quality Plumeria Flowers for a Lei
• Arrange Six Flower Buds
• Plant Tritoma
• Harvest Tulips
• Plant Night Blooming Jasmine
• Make a Mother's Day Bouquet
• Create a Spilled Flower Pot
• Grow Your Own Bouquet
• Create a Tropical Bouquet
• Propagate Azaleas

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