Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Preserve Orchids
How to Preserve Orchids. Although most orchids come in a pattern of three petals and three sepals, they vary greatly in color and size. Orchids can be used in bouquets, or in vases for decorating fireplace mantels. Over time, the orchids begin to fade. You do not have to watch the beauty of your orchids fade away. You can preserve the orchids by...
Although most orchids come in a pattern of three petals and three sepals, they vary greatly in color and size. Orchids can be used in bouquets, or in vases for decorating fireplace mantels. Over time, the orchids begin to fade. You do not have to watch the beauty of your orchids fade away. You can preserve the orchids by pressing them in a flower press.
Things You'll Need
Flower press
Cardboard
Newspaper sheets
Open the flower press. Some have Velcro closures and others have nuts and bolts.
Set a piece of cardboard on the bottom of the flower press. Place a sheet of newspaper over the top of it.
Remove any green foliage from the orchids you want to preserve. Set one to three orchids on the sheet of newspaper. Smaller presses will only accommodate one flower, while larger presses may accommodate three. The orchids should be at least 1 to 2 inches apart.
Cover the orchids with a sheet of newspaper, followed by a piece of cardboard.
Close the press by fastening the Velcro, or replacing the nuts and bolts. Set aside for two weeks.
Open your flower press and feel the orchids to see if they are dry. If not, replace the sheets of newspaper with fresh ones, and press again for another three to five days. Repeat until the orchids are completely dry.
Tips & Warnings
If you don't have a flower press, you can place the orchids in between several heavy books.
Display your preserved orchid in a shadow box.
Don't wait until the orchids are fading to preserve them. Their color is best retained if the orchid is pressed while it is still fresh.
