Pressed Flowers vs. Dried Flowers: Which Lasts Longer?

Flowers have long been cherished as tokens of love, celebration, and remembrance. Whether it’s a wedding bouquet, a thoughtful gift, or a garden bloom that holds sentimental value, preserving flowers allows us to keep these memories alive. When it comes to flower preservation, two of the most common methods are pressing and drying. But which method ensures your flowers last longer? Let’s explore the key differences.

The Differences Between Pressed and Dried Flowers

Both pressed and dried flowers help to extend the life of fresh blooms, but they undergo different preservation processes:

Pressed Flowers: Flowers are carefully flattened and dried between layers of absorbent paper, often using a flower press. This method removes moisture while keeping the flower’s delicate details intact.

Dried Flowers: Flowers are air-dried, silica-dried, freeze-dried or hung upside down to remove moisture while retaining a three-dimensional form.

Things to consider

Colour Retention
If doing this at home, pressed flowers tend to hold their original colours more vibrantly than air-dried flowers. Air drying flowers in their full form often leads to colour fading, where petals turn brown or become dull over time due to prolonged exposure to air and light.

Reduced Brittleness
Air dried flowers are fragile and prone to crumbling if left out as a bouquet. Over time, their petals can break apart with the slightest touch. In contrast, pressed flowers or flowers dried in 3D, when sealed properly in frames, remain intact for years without the risk of shattering.

More Protection Against Moisture
Flowers stored behind glass or in sealed artwork, protects them from dust and moisture, which can cause mould or decay in dried flowers left open to the environment.

Easy to Preserve and Display
Pressed or 3D flowers lend themselves beautifully to framed artwork, botanical jewellery, or keepsake gifts. Dried flowers, on the other hand, require careful arrangement and maintenance, making them more susceptible to damage in everyday environments.

Eco-Friendly and Space-Saving
Pressed flowers framed take up significantly less space than dried floral arrangements, making them a more sustainable and practical choice.

Ensuring Your Flowers Stay Vibrant Over Time

Whichever option you choose, the best way to ensure your flowers don’t fade over time is to include colour enhancement and custom framing in a frame that is specially made to seal the flowers as part of the process. This helps to protect them from environmental factors and maintain their beauty for years to come.

The Best Choice for Timeless Floral Keepsakes

If you’re looking for a way to preserve a special bouquet, commemorate an important event, or create a lasting piece of floral art, professional preservation offers the best balance of longevity, colour preservation, and elegance. At SIÓG Botanicals, we specialise in expertly pressing flowers or preserving in 3D, ensuring your cherished blooms are transformed into exquisite keepsakes that stand the test of time.

Explore our flower preservation services and discover how we can help you create a lasting memory with pressed flowers!