How to Dry Hydrangeas to Preserve the Blooms Long After Summer

Hydrangeas are beloved for their showy, colorful flowers that fill gardens with season-long interest. And the best part about these blooms is that their beauty doesn't fade once they start to wilt. You can give hydrangea flowers a second life indoors by cutting them off and drying them. Once dried, hydrangea blooms look great in flower arrangements, secured to wreaths, or presented in a vase as a standalone statement piece. There are three easy ways to dry hydrangea blooms—we spoke to experts to get their tips for when and how to do each method.

When to Cut Hydrangeas for Drying

Wait until late summer or even early fall to cut hydrangea flowers, which gives them enough time to naturally dry out. "If you cut them too soon, they shrivel up," says Millie Marzec, co-owner of Washington state flower supplier Hydrangea Rangers. Pay close attention to the leaves, which start to feel papery and less fresh, and to the petals, which will begin to fold under as the colors fade.

You should also consider the color of hydrangeas when you cut them, as they will fade during the natural drying process. "Most hydrangea flowers start off a certain color, like green or white, and turn into a different color, like pink or red," says Chris Link, co-owner of Nebraska-based online nursery Plant Addicts. "Cut the flower when it's the shade of color you want, but before the flower turns brown."

How to Hang Dry Hydrangeas

Hang drying hydrangea blooms upside-down allows for the fastest drying time and a minimum of flattened petals, says Marzec.

1. Cut the hydrangea with clean, sharp shears, leaving a stem of 12 to 18 inches.
2. Use a clothespin to attach the stem to a clothesline, allowing the bloom to hang upside down.
3. Hang the flowers in a dry, dim space. Humidity and cool weather increase the drying time, while too much direct light can cause the colors to wash out.

How to Dry Hydrangeas in a Vase

Drying hydrangeas in a vase is a great option for hydrangeas with thick, sturdy stems, says Link.

1. Cut the hydrangeas off the bush with clean, sharp shears, leaving stems of about 12 to 18 inches in length.
2. Remove the leaves from the stems.
3. Arrange the flowers in a vase, with or without water.
4. After the water evaporates, the hydrangeas will dry naturally.
   

How to Dry Hydrangeas With Silica

To keep the color of your hydrangeas vibrant, use silica, which dries flowers with less fading. "The silica can get expensive, but this is the best way to preserve the vibrant colors of the flowers," says Link.

1. Choose a container wide enough and deep enough for your hydrangea bloom to fit without touching the sides or bottom; the flower's shape can be damaged if it rests against the container.
2. Carefully pour silica around the flower and in between each individual petal to suspend the flower in the crystals.
3. Allow the hydrangea to dry for about four days—it should maintain its original shade.