How to Dry Hydrangeas for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re new to the art of drying flowers and want to learn how to dry hydrangeas successfully, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll show you how to dry hydrangeas for beginners in my easy step-by-step guide. I’ll walk you through the process, providing easy-to-follow instructions so that even beginners can master the art of preserving these timeless beauties.

How to Dry Hydrangeas for Beginners - DIY Dried Hydrangea Arrangement

I’ve loved hydrangeas as long as I can remember. This year, I planted a garden of hydrangeas at my home, right behind our white picket fence. The perfect cottage vibe, right?? The vibrant color they add to the exterior of your home, instantly enhances its curb appeal and creates a welcoming, cottage-like atmosphere. Perfect for this Cottage in the Mitten!

Even though it’s mid-September, I’m sure your hydrangeas are still blooming. That means that you still have plenty of time to cut and dry them. Drying hydrangeas is an easy and rewarding process that allows you to preserve their beauty for long-lasting floral arrangements or wreaths. Here’s my beginner-friendly guide on how to dry hydrangeas.

How to Dry Hydrangeas for Beginners - Hydrangea

When to Cut Hydrangeas for Drying

There are only a few tips to remember when cutting hydrangeas.

Do not cut after a fresh rain
Do not cut when freshly bloomed

The reason? In both these scenerios, the hydrangeas will contain too much moisture. All that moisture will cause the flowers to immediately wilt and die. I have a few Nantucket Blue and although I love the vibrant color when it first blooms, I’ve learned to be patient and enjoy them on the bush.

August thru October is typically the best time to start the process. You should cut your flowers when their color begins to shift and they begin to have a papery texture. If they feel velvety they aren’t ready to cut.

“Hydrangeas are like people. They come in all different shapes and sizes, and each one is beautiful in its own way.” – Unknown

How to Dry Hydrangeas for Beginners - Nantucket Blue hydrangea

How to Cut Hydrangeas

When the flowers are ready to cut, make sure to choose the right time of day, preferably in the early morning or later afternoon when the temperature is cooler.

It’s important to make sure you use sharp, clean garden shears or pruners to make clean cuts. Locate a hydrangea stem with healthy-looking blooms, and cut it at a 45-degree angle just above a set of leaves or a node. Ensure that each stem you cut has at least one or two pairs of leaves.

If you plan on cutting a large bunch of flowers at once, place your cut hydrangeas in a temporary bucket of water. That way the bucket of water will keep them hydrated until you’re ready to arrange them in a vase.

How to Dry Hydrangeas for Beginners - When to cut hydrangeas

“There is something about the color of hydrangeas. It can change from pink to blue to lavender, depending on the acidity of the soil. There is magic in that.” – Susan Wiggs

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Drying the Hydrangeas

I’m a beginner, when it comes to drying hydranges. So, I read a lot of articles before trying what worked for me.

Before you put the cut hydrangeas in water, make sure to remove all their leaves. Removing the leaves ensures that the flowers dry more evenly.

Place the trimmed hydrangea stems in a vase filled with about two inches of water. As the water evaporates, the hydrangeas will gradually dry naturally, retaining their lovely color and shape. Keep the vase away from any direct sunlight and in a well-ventaliated place. This will prevent rapid drying and keep the flowers from fading.

The drying process takes 2-3 weeks, so be patient. In just a few weeks, you’ll have elegant dried hydrangeas that can be enjoyed for months to come.

The process is so simple you won’t even believe it!