Nowadays, dried flowers and dried bouquets are all the rage! Dried roses are a natural decoration that you can make yourself, much nicer than artificial roses. It's also a way to preserve a beautiful bouquet for longer that you were given for a wedding, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or any other festive occasion, and that holds a special place in your heart as a lovely keepsake. If you love roses, you might be wondering how to dry them without altering their appearance too much and how to preserve them for a very long time. Discover our tips for drying roses, no matter the variety, with florist secrets for creating beautiful floral arrangements and decorating your home.

bouquet of dried roses, tutorial and tips for drying roses

Bouquet of dried white roses

1. When should you dry a rose?

It is recommended to dry a rose before it fully opens, whether you pick it from your garden or decide to dry the roses from a bouquet already in a vase.

2. How to pick fresh roses for drying?

  • Pick roses just before they bloom
  • Select the most beautiful and healthiest flowers
  • Cut the stems to the desired length (usually 15 cm) using pruning shears
  • Remove all the foliage
dried roses, picking roses to dry

These roses were picked before they fully opened

3. How to dry a rose naturally?

  • Gather the roses you want to dry into a bouquet or dry each rose individually. In both cases, the technique is the same. Tie them together if needed with an elastic band, string, or raffia.
  • Then simply hang the roses on a clothesline with pegs, on hangers, or on a beam, head down, in a dry and dark place like an attic or a dry barn. However, the area should be well-ventilated. The absence of sunlight and light will allow the rose to dry without fading.
  • Wait for the roses to dry before retrieving them.
dried roses, how to dry roses

Roses hung individually

4. How to make a bouquet of dried roses?

When your bouquet of roses is almost fully bloomed, take it out of the vase, dab the water off the stems, and dry it upside down by hanging it in a dry and dark place, just like freshly picked roses.

5. How to dry roses in silica gel?

  • Another option to preserve colours: drying in silica gel.
  • Choose an airtight container and place a layer of silica gel at the bottom.
  • Place your roses on this first layer.
  • Cover them with a second layer of silica gel.
  • Close the container and wait a few days for the gel to dehydrate the flowers.
  • Retrieve the dried roses after a few days, wearing gloves to remove the gel from the roses.

To absorb moisture from the roses, you can also use sand instead of silica gel.

dried roses, drying roses with silica gel, absorbing moisture from roses

Silica gel beads

6. How to dry a rose in a book?

  • Choose a heavy and thick book, like an encyclopedia or dictionary.
  • Place your rose in absorbent paper, then slide it between the pages of the book and press firmly.
  • Stack other books on top to keep the encyclopedia tightly closed.
  • Check occasionally to ensure your rose doesn’t stick to the absorbent paper or the book pages.
  • After several days, it should be dry.

However, this method has the drawback of flattening and deforming the roses.

dried roses, drying roses, roses pressed in a book

7. How to preserve a dried rose?

  • To best preserve the colours of your roses, protect them from light. It is therefore advised not to expose them to direct sunlight and to avoid overly bright areas.
  • To prevent your dried roses from gathering too much dust, you can gently dust them using a hairdryer on a cool, low setting.
  • To keep your dried roses for as long as possible, avoid exposing them to moisture and store them in a dry room.
  • Finally, hairspray can help protect and preserve them longer. Once your roses are dry, you can lightly spray them with hairspray.

8. How to use dried roses?

  • You can place your bouquet of dried roses in an empty vase as decoration.
  • You can also cut the stems and keep only the flowers to make potpourri, which you can display in a beautiful glass bowl or pretty jar.
  • Use your dried roses to create wreaths or garlands as wall decorations, on furniture, or even as a crown for a party or event.
  • Finally, you can play the florist and create a floral arrangement that will impress your guests.
drying roses, decoration with dried roses

Roses in potpourri or on a wreath, perfect for rustic or romantic decor

9. How to make dried rose petals?

  • You can choose to collect the petals from your roses and dry them. To do this, select fully bloomed roses and gently detach the petals.
  • Place them on a flat surface in a dry and dimly lit area, like an attic.
  • Ensure the petals don’t touch each other and turn them occasionally.
  • Drying takes several days, or even weeks, depending on where you store them.
  • Another option: dry the petals using a dehydrator. In this case, follow the appliance’s instructions.

Now all that’s left is to create potpourri, flower bouquets, floral arrangements (with dried perennials or grasses, for example), or decorations with your dried rose petals.
You can also add them to your bath if you’re feeling adventurous!

Also, check out our complete collection of rose bushes!