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Working Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 week
Skill Level: Kid-friendly
Estimated Cost: $0
Yield: Dried hydrangea stems

Gloria Ward's dining room table is the perfect place to sit and learn how to dry hydrangeas. For a few weeks each summer, Gloria, a member of the American Hydrangea Society whose Atlanta-area garden showcases her favorite flowering shrub, sets up a convenient laboratory on her dining table, where she dries blossoms cut from her garden.

The process begins mid to late summer as Gloria strolls through her garden in search of viable candidates. "You should cut the blooms as soon as they feel papery and less supple than they were earlier in the season," she says. The papery stage typically occurs at least six weeks after the flowers open, although sunlight can hasten maturity. Follow along with Gloria's process for a no-fail way to dry hydrangeas.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Pruning shears
Bucket

Materials

Hydrangeas
Water
Jars

Instructions

Cut Hydrangeas

In the cool of the morning, Gloria arms herself with pruning shears and a bucket of water. She collects flower heads, cuts stems at an angle, strips off leaves, and places the cuttings in water. This is preparation for how to dry hydrangeas for long-lasting beauty.
Place Stems in Jars

Once indoors, she recuts the stems to varying lengths and places them in jars containing about four inches of water, about a half-dozen stems per jar. By staggering the stem heights, each head benefits from air circulation, which is crucial in drying.

Gloria then places the jars in her dining room, away from direct sunlight or bright light, for one to two weeks. If, after that time, the water has evaporated and the flowers still aren't dry, she adds more water and allows the blooms more drying time.
Use Hydrangeas in Decor

Compared to fresh blooms' bright, clear colors, air-drying hydrangea allows them to take on muted hues. Once the flowers are dry, Gloria arranges them in vases, wreaths, and topiaries. When displayed away from humidity and direct sunlight, dried hydrangeas last indefinitely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why aren't my hydrangeas thriving?

It may be that your hydrangeas are getting too much sun or, on the flip side, too much shade. If the soil isn't well-draining, the roots of your hydrangea plants can rot, and if you get water on the foliage, it can spread common hydrangea diseases. For more possible reasons, check out our helpful list.
Are hydrangeas poisonous?

Regardless of the variety, if eaten, all parts of hydrangeas are toxic to cats, dogs, and other animals,including humans. Supervise pets and small children around hydrangeas in your garden, and keep the cut flowers in your home out of their reach.
What are the best types of hydrangea to grow in my garden?

Panicle hydrangeas are best for full sun, and oakleaf is the easiest hydrangea to care for. Smooth hydrangeas do best in cold climates, and Endless Summer bigleaf hydrangeas keep blooming the longest.

Sources

Better Homes & Gardens is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy.