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Create A Chic Centerpiece With Martha Stewart's Clever Hydrangea Trick
By WILL FORD
On her blog, Martha Stewart wrote that hydrangeas "are excellent in cut arrangements and for drying" and explained how to dry them in order to create a decorative centerpiece.
Once the blooms begin to dry on the plant and the petals feel papery, snip them with about 12 to 18 inches of stem attached, removing any remaining leaves.
Per Stewart, drying hydrangeas in a vase of water is an excellent way of preserving their colors and blooms. So, choose healthy blooms, as dried flowers will retain those colors.
Fill a vase with lukewarm water and place the blooms in it, fully submerging the stems. You can put multiple stems in the same vase, but avoid overcrowding them.
Place the vase in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight. In about three weeks, the water in the vase will gradually evaporate and leave behind dried hydrangeas.
You can also preserve hydrangeas with silica gel to maintain their color and shape, but it's pricier than drying them upside down or in a vase.
Fill a container with silica gel, then trim the stem of the hydrangea and place it upright in the container, gently pouring silica gel around it until fully covered.
Seal the container tightly and let it sit for one to two weeks. Once dried, gently remove the blooms from the silica and arrange the flowers in a vase as a stunning centerpiece.