How to care for dried
and preserved flora
The Dry Bar Co. is passionate about educating buyers on how they can keep their flowers longer and get the most out of their purchase. We recommend following our flora care guide to increase the lifespan of your dried or preserved flowers and reduce the risk of waste, damage and colour fading. We are constantly learning and discovering new ways to maintain and care for dried and preserved flowers and will continue to update this section when needed.
There are ways to increase the lifespan of your dried or preserved flowers, by ensuring they are not kept in a humid area, in direct sunlight, in a high traffic area, under direct air conditioning or heating and by not transporting or moving them excessively. Periodically you may need to clean your flowers and we suggest a gentle setting on your hair dryer to blow away any dirt or dust.
If you would like specific care tips for our preserved pampas grass please follow our pampas preparation guide.
Don’t Place in Water and Avoid Humidity
Dried and preserved flowers do not need water to survive, they thrive in a dry environment making them lower maintenance and easier to care for. It is very important you keep dried and preserved flowers away from humid prone areas and away from areas they might get wet - Humidity and water can cause flowers to go mouldy and this is why we also do not suggest to keep them stored in a box for long periods of time. If the flowers have been dyed and have been exposed to water they may leak colouring, you can dry them out in a cool dry place if this occurs.
If you live in a tropical climate we suggest using a dehumidifier to reduce humidity and the potential development of mould. Our professionally dried flowers have been dried at high temperature to remove all moisture and stop decomposition.
Our professionally preserved flowers and preserved pampas grass have also been dried at high temperatures and then they undergo our preservation technique to achieve a fresh flower look.
Good Airflow is Key
Promote airflow surrounding your flora to prevent temperature changes. Ensure your flora are not trapped in stagnant or damp environments, to avoid unwanted moisture and mold. Keep an eye on the stems within your vase or urn arrangements, making sure they stay dry and free from any signs of dampness. Should moisture arise, take your flora out of the vessel and allow it to completely dry out and consider providing your flora with a new home, where they can revel in a drier atmosphere.
Keep Out of Direct Sunlight
The best way to keep your dried and preserved flora from fading and damage is to style and arrange them in a shady space or in direct sunlight. Bright light and direct UV exposure can be harsh on dried and preserved flowers if they are constantly exposed. Dried and preserved flowers will naturally fade over time, by exposing them to direct sunlight regularly you will speed up this process which will also affect the form and overall quality.
Preserved pampas grass can be exposed to direct sunlight periodically to help fluff them up and then returned to their usual space away from direct sunlight.
Be Gentle and Avoid High Traffic Areas
When you receive your dried or preserved flowers, you will want to prepare, style and arrange them. Please remember that they need to be handled with care to avoid breaking and damaging the petals and stems as they are delicate. Avoid placing your arrangement in high traffic arrears where they can be easily knocked or brushed against as this will result in your flowers deteriorating quickly and losing their form.
Dried and preserved flowers should be kept away and out of reach of small children and pets so they do not get damaged or consumed.
Take care when moving or changing your dried flowers
It is best to avoid transporting and moving the flowers around excessively. We suggest finding the space you would like to display your arrangement and style it there. If you are wanting to play around with the look of the arrangement from time to time, do so carefully.
Cleaning your dried or preserved flowers
Just like anything in your home, your dried and preserved flowers may start to accumulate some light dust and dirt over time. Periodically you may need to clean your flowers and we suggest a gentle cool setting on your hair dryer to blow away any dust or dirt.
Make sure to keep it light-handed, as your flowers are delicate and do not like excessive handling as we have mentioned.
Avoid direct air-conditioning, heating and wind
We recommend that you do not place your arrangements under or near high draft areas as the effect that direct airflow can have on your dried and preserved flowers is damaging. The flowers are lightweight and delicate and if exposed to direct air conditioning or heating they may shed and lose their form.
Exposing your arrangement to direct air-conditioning, heating or wind can cause unwanted movement and damage your flowers slowly over time reducing their lifespan.