Traditional Flower Pressing
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
In this blog post you’ll read about what traditional flower pressing is and why it is a commonly chosen method for preserving flowers.
Hi, I’m Bri from Kōwhai Lane, Ōtuatahi Christchurch based flower pressing preserver and the traditional flower pressing method is my specialty, taking the time and care each bloom deserves so they can live on for years and years to come.
What is traditional flower pressing and how does it work?
Flowers are made up of 70-95% water, which is held in the plants cells, and in order to preserve these flowers we need to remove that moisture content. So much of what makes a beautiful bloom full of life literally evaporates over time with the traditional flower pressing method.
Traditional flower pressing is the process of preserving flowers by deconstructing them, petal by petal and placing them between sheets of paper. In order to then slowly remove the moisture out of each petal over time we apply gentle and consistent pressure for weeks, with multiple paper changes on end until they are completely dry and flat.
The traditional flower press process allows flowers to dry and flatten whilst the moisture slowly evaporates allowing a slower drying process which in turn keeps the natural shape and colour as close to the original flower as possible.
It’s a slow, careful method that’s been used for many years, and the only method I use as a flower preserver. I’ve personally found the colour retention holds the best compared to other methods.
In the early days at Kōwhai Lane, there was a lot of trial and error with other methods of drying including silica beads, dehydrators, microwaves, even an iron. All of these were definitely faster, but failed to produce results I was happy with.
The aim was to keep the flowers as close to their original colour and shape as possible. A bouquet is a statement piece on your wedding day, and it deserves to maintain its beauty within its preserved flower frame too.
I have learned over time which flowers press best and which ones need a little bit of additional work to get them just right. Sometimes there are adjustments needed for petal thickness, moisture content, pigment sensitivity (although colour correction can help some blooms here too) and seasonal variations.
If you’d like to find out more about the process and how to book your special bouquet for preservation you can read about our process here.
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