Yet if you so desire, you can let the charm carry on ! By using the drying process, you can make the rose live again. And this process is simple and not very expensive. Dried roses are as handsome as they looked when they were in full bloom.

Rose Drying Techniques

The two most common processes for rose drying are air drying and sand drying. Of the two, air drying is easier and requires only a good and clean pair of shears, some wire, a coat hanger and a dark dry location. Start by cutting the stem of the rose, as close to the head of the rose as possible. Then insert a wire which is about 6 to 8 inches long into the rose head.

Now the drying process starts. Roses need to dry in an upside down position. Tie one end of the wire on to a hanger. You can tie many such roses upside down on the hanger. Just leave some space between the roses for air to circulate. Then put the hanger in a dark and dry place ? an unused closet can be an ideal location. Roses need typically 1 to 3 weeks to dry.

You can also hand many roses upside down from a nail. Do not cut off the stems in this case, merely remove the leaves which are at the bottom. Then hold the bunch of roses together, tie the stems with an elastic band, and hang them in a dark and dry corner, till dry.

The other rose drying technique is the sand drying process. It takes a little more effort but works wonderfully. Take a rose when it is in full shape and form. Cut the stem leaving about an inch. Make sure that the stem, leaves and flower are really dry and free from dew or any other water. take a wire and insert it through the stem till it reaches the head. Take a deep box and fill it up with white sand to a height when the rose can stand upright in the box.

Next hold the rose stand in to the box and start filling it up first to cover the base, then the stem and then the petals slowly. The whole idea is to retain the original shape and form of the flower. Go on covering the whole flower with san till you can no longer see the flower. Then put the sand and rose filled box in a dark and dry place and leave it for 1 to 3 weeks to dry completely. You have to be very careful while removing the flower from its sand box. . Tip the box gradually to remove the sand and empty the box. Clutch each rose as it becomes sand free.

Wax, glycerin or a desiccant are also used for rose drying but these processes are a bit lengthy. A popular way to dry roses is to place it between the pages of a fat book.

There are many uses of dried roses. From being part of a floral arrangement, decorative wreaths, bouquets for weddings and framed artwork. Dried rose petals make good potpourri as well as confetti !