Statice, or Limonium sinuatum, is a tender perennial from the Mediterranean that we grow as an annual flower in the cut flower garden. These interesting blooms have strong thick stems, and tissue paper like flowers that are perfect for drying. Learn how to dry statice, and use these unique and attractive flowers in your dried flower arrangements.
Understanding Statice Flowers
Statice, also known as sea lavender, is a fresh flower that can easily be dried.
The flowers are known for their bright colors and unique, papery texture.
These hardy blooms, often referred to as "everlasting flowers," are prized for their ability to retain color and shape long after drying.
With shades ranging from purple and pink to white and yellow, statice adds a cheerful, natural touch to dried flower arrangements, wreaths, and crafts.
One of the benefits of growing statice plants is that the flowers can be used both in the fresh and the dried state. This is especially important for flower farmers, who can make the most of the many flowers that they grow.
Statice is beautiful in the fresh state, and the colorful blooms can be used in fresh bouquets and floral arrangements. It grows all summer long in the cutting garden, putting out new stems on an ongoing basis.
The statice flower in the dried state holds it's color and stem strength. To dry the flower, it's important to use the right right harvesting and drying techniques.
When To Harvest For Drying
Harvesting statice at the right stage for drying is important. Flowers that are too young can wilt, and overripe blooms are more likely to shed petals or lose their color.
Statice should be harvested at the right stage, when the blooms are mature.
An indication of maturity on the statice flower is the presence of the tiny white blooms that open on top of the flower.
These small white blooms are the statice flowers. The colored parts in the flower head are the calyx of the flowers.
When the tiny white flowers are open, the flower is less inclined to wilt.
In their freshest state, statice flower heads have a beautiful intense color. You definitely want to capture this color and preserve it in the dried flower form if you can.
As the flowers start to age, the color starts to fade, and the white blossoms fall off. When you see this, you will know that the flower is not in the freshest state for harvesting or drying.
Harvest statice on a dry day, and in the cooler part of the day. Make sure that the morning dew has dried off any flowers before harvesting, if picking in the morning.
Have a clean bucket of fresh water on hand to place the freshly cut stems directly into the water.
Step By Step Guide To Drying Statice
1. Preparation
- Condition the statice stems and flowers before beginning the drying process.
- Conditioning prior to drying adds to the quality of the foliage and flowers being dried. The conditioned and prepared statice flowers will be in their freshest and most hydrated state, and will be perfect for drying.
- Clean the stems and remove excess leaves.
- Place the freshly cut stems into a container of water or conditioning solution, and allow the stems to hydrate and soak up the solution for several hours or more.
- While the flowers are soaking up the water or conditioning solution, ensure that they are placed in the shade or out of direct sunlight, and in a cool place if possible.
- The end result will be a better quality dried flower.
2. Choose A Drying Method
There are a number of different methods for drying statice flowers, with great results.
1. Hanging To Dry
- Hanging statice to dry is by far the easiest way to dry these flowers. This technique involves air drying and hanging the flowers upside down.
- Hang your statice in a dry place that is out of full sun or direct sunlight. The best location is a dark room, which is warm, dry, and has good air circulation.
- You can hang from almost any surface that allows the flowers to hang, such as a hook, a rack, an inverted wire basket, a coat hanger, or a specially designed hanging line.
- If drying in larger amounts, a special hanging line is ideal, and will have the strength to hold many bundles of flowers.
- To hang upside down, bundle together small bunches of statice, in groups of five to six stems. Tie the bundle with an elastic band, which will help keep the stems together as they shrink in diameter and dry.
- This elastic or rubber band can also be used to help secure the bundle of flowers to the drying line, with a string or a clothes pin.
- Make sure to provide a space between the bundles as they hang, to allow for air circulation.
- Drying time is about two weeks.
- Store in an airtight container or cardboard box in a cool and dark place.
2. Pressing The Flowers
- Pressing statice flowers is another way of drying them. The flowers become dried as they are slowly pressed flat.
- Pressing creates a beautiful form, and there are many different ways to use the pressed statice.
- Make sure to press statice blooms that are dry. Moist flowers will likely lead to moulding.
- Place the statice between absorbent paper, such as tissue paper.
- Insert the paper containing the statice inside your chosen pressing device, such as a book or a flower press.
- My favourite way of pressing statice is using a DIY flower press, with solid and strong wooden ends which make pressing a breeze.
- Pressing takes a little more time than hanging to dry, and can take up to a month or more.
- Store in tissue paper in an air tight container, in a cool and dark place.
3. Drying Upright In A Vase
- Drying statice upright in a vase also works well, and you get to enjoy the flowers as they dry.
- To dry, set the flowers in a vase which has several inches of water in the bottom.
- Allow the flowers to soak up the water, and then do not add any more to the vase.
- The flowers will now be hydrated, and will be in their best condition to dry in place over a period of several weeks.
- Once fully dry, remove from the vase and wrap the flowers in paper for storage.
4. Drying In Silica Gel
- Silica gel is a drying agent which efficiently and quickly dries flowers that are covered with the silica substance.
- I tend to use the flower heads only when drying in silica gel.
- Choose a container with a lid because the setup should be airtight.
- Fill the container with approximately one half to one inch of silica gel, then place the flowers on top.
- Slowly cover the blooms with more silica until they are completely covered.
- Drying time is approximately 2 to 3 days. Check on the flowers during the drying period to ensure that they do not get overly dry.
- Store flowers that have been dried in silica gel in an air tight container in a dark location. They will store well for several years.
Tips For Storing Dried Statice
After drying statice, it is important to store the dried flowers to help preserve the color of the dried blooms.
Store dried statice in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity.
Use airtight containers or wrap them in tissue paper to protect them from dust and moisture.
Statice stems can be quite long in length, and will take up a bit of space, so it's important to find a suitable container for storage. You can use a box with the necessary dimensions, or a lidded container to hold the dried flowers.
Also, try to bundle similar colors together for ease of access.
Use reverse action tweezers for handling of delicate flowers when needed.
Using Dried Statice In Decor
Dried statice flowers are a versatile and natural addition to any home decor. Their papery texture and rich colors make them perfect for various creative and stylish applications.
Here Are A Few Ways To Use Your Dried Statice Flowers:
- Place a few stems in a small glass bottle or bud vase for a minimalist look. Or combine dried statice with other dried flowers like lavender, baby’s breath, or roses for a full bouquet.
- Incorporate statice into wreaths for different seasons (purple for spring, yellow for summer, etc.).
- Tie statice stems together and hang them upside down on walls for a farmhouse aesthetic.
- Press and frame dried statice to create one-of-a-kind wall art.
- Arrange dried flowers in a shadow box for display.
- Combine dried statice with aromatic herbs and flowers like lavender or rosemary for a lovely potpourri.
- Fill small fabric bags with dried statice and other materials for drawer fresheners or decor.
- Pair statice with dried grasses and seed pods for a fall arrangement.
- Tie a few sprigs to wrapped gifts for an elegant touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take statice to dry?
Statice stems and flowers will dry within several weeks, with most techniques.
Pressing statice will take a bit longer, with approximately a month or so of drying time.
Statice blooms dried in silica gel will dry the most quickly, taking only several days to dry.
You can feel when the flowers are dry, as they feel dry to the touch and lighter in weight.
Before storing the dried flowers away, it is essential that the blooms are dried completely to prevent moulding.
How long does dried statice last?
Dried statice can last for a couple of years if stored properly.
The key to storing any dried flowers is to keep them free of moisture and high humidity, which can lead to moulding of the flowers.
For long-term storage keep the dried flowers in a dry location, and they will have their longest shelf life.
What if my statice flowers develop mold while drying?
Mold can form if there is insufficient airflow or excess humidity. Ensure your drying area is well-ventilated and dry.
If mold appears, it’s best to discard the affected flowers.
In Summary
Drying statice flowers is a simple yet rewarding process that brings the beauty of your garden indoors for months or even years to come.
Drying statice is easy, and there are more than a few ways to do it. It's a great way to preserve these flowers, especially if you are growing a lot of statice in the garden.
Statice is one of the best flowers for drying, due to the ease of process and the resulting beautiful blooms. These dried flowers are perfect everlastings, and maintain their color and unique form in the dried state.
Dried statice flowers will last a long time with proper care. Keep your different statice colors together in like bunches for ease of use.
Enjoy the process, as drying statice is yet another way to enjoy this wonderful flower! Happy drying!
Have you ever tried to dry statice flowers? Be sure to share your experience by leaving a comment below!
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