Drying Hydrangeas...101


I just adore hydrangeas. Indoors and out!

Have you ever tried to dry them and have this happen? Me too~

I read and studied and read some more and here is my version. 1. Keep a close eye on them. While they are in full color enjoy them outdoors. It's too early to clip them for drying because they still contain way too much moisture. Clipping for pleasure is just fine but they wont dry well at this time.

2.Mine are pink. They come in so many colors depending on your soil or family. Because mine are dark pink I will wait till they start to fade..as you can see here they are starting to lose their luster.

3.wait for it...

4. I wait till mine are almost bleached by the sun. This is when they are perfect for cutting. The moisture in the blooms are about gone at this time.

I just clip away and enjoy my harvest!

You don't have to hang them upside to dry because if you wait till just the right moment they will do all of their drying right on their bush before cutting.

I have read where you can add color by using dye. I was thinking maybe food color or blueberry juice. That may give it more of a natural look.

As for me...I like them just natural!
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48 comments:

  1. My parents have giant bushes of hydrangeas in their front yard and I'm always jealous of my moms clippings. I tried to grow my own and it died ;(

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  2. So pretty!!! Our soil is sooo dry all my plants die...there goes my hydrangeas :( I'll admire yours sitting atop your mantle next to the adorable bunny ♥

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  3. I planted mu first hydrangia this year and I am still waiting to cut. Thanks for the info!

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  4. You reminded me that I have lots of clipping to do. There's nothing prettier than dried hydrangeas.

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  5. ...susie, thanks so much for the gorgeous pictures and the wonderful info...hydrangias so remind me of my beloved new england coast. xo, mickey

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  6. ooooohhhh....love hydrangeas. I hope to have several bushes in my yard when it finally gets some landscaping love.

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  7. I love all your hydrangeas! It's funny you should post this because I was just wondering about how to dry hydrangeas. Now I know!

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  8. I have a friend who has loads, and I may just ask her if I can cut them. They are ready to be cut. Thanks for the helpful advice. Jackie

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  9. If I EVER see one of those weather vanes like yours, I will snatch it up immediately. Every time you show it I get a little jealous twitch, ha! About the hydrangeas, mine are blue and purple, and I will definitely have to try drying them now. Thanks for the tip.

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  10. I LOVE hydrangeas! I think they are so pretty! And I like them natural, too. I'd love to plant some but my luck they would not turn out the color they were supposed to. Did you know that you can change the color of them by adding more or less acid to the soil? At least that's what Southern Living says. : )

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  11. I planted my hydrangeas 2 summers ago and this is the first summer they flowered. I didn't know how to preserve them and was going to google it this morning to find out and then I saw your blog! How funny.

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  13. Suzie, I've always wanted some dried hydrangeas; they are so pretty!!! I have never grown them so I haven't had any to dry. I need to do that.
    also, I recognize your SLaHOME urn!! Love it!
    Have a good day.

    suzanne

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  14. my goal is to plant some this next year. I was just at my sis's and she has hundreds...they are so gorgeous and one of my favs.

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  15. I LOVE LOVE LOVE hydrangeas.

    Come by for my give-a-way this week by 10 pm Fri.
    and then check out our newest addition.

    Cheri
    www.itssoverycheri.blogspot.com

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  16. I planted two bushes this year and I am hoping I can keep them alive. Perfect advice for me because when I planted them they have some blooms on them. I am hoping to eventually cut them and have them in my home. Fingers crossed!♥

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  17. Ooh-good tip! I love hydrangeas. I bought a very large one at Costco, but I think my husband killed it with too much plant food. It looks scorched, but I keep watering it b/c there are definitely live branches/leaves. We'll see what it looks like next year. :)

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  18. Good Morning :o) Let us know the girl's blog is that you were lifting up. We would love to visit her and welcome her to blog land. The Twins.

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  19. My absolute FAVORITE flower!! I don't have any so I guess I will just have to scope out some of my neighbors' yards and sneak over in the middle of the night and....ok, not really! But I do love them!!

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  21. I have got to get a hydrangea. I love them, too. But do they do well in shade? Our yard doesn't get much full sun.

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  22. I just love hydrangeas natural and dried as well!

    Thanks for the tip, I will have to dry some for my decor.

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  23. Thanks for this tip!!! I am getting married on October and my bridal bouquet is going to be all white hydrangeas....and idea on how to preserve the bouquet??? I would love to keep it if I can!!!

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  24. Beautiful! Thank you for the instructions!!

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  25. now that's good stuff! i was just wondering how to do the drying...and now, i know!

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  26. Hi Susie,

    I love hydrangeas too and dry them and put them in baskets.
    They always remind me of hats that my Mother used to wear, when I was a little girl.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  27. Thanks for the tips! I've been reading up on this too. This will be my first year to try drying them so we will see! :)

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  28. Aubrey at Made you Blush suggested I check you out--so glad I did! :) You have a new follower!

    Susan @ www.peanutpetunia.blogspot.com

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  29. THANK YOU!!!!
    If you could have seen my craft closet last week with shriveled hydrangeas hanging upsidedown, you would have laughed.

    But now I know... to wait. Bless you!!!

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  30. Thank you so much for the comment! You're right, life is definitely a scary and amazing ride all at once. Have a great weekend!

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  31. I adore hydrangeas!!!! Yours are just beautiful Susie...I've dried many myself and you are so right about the wait on cutting ~ xxoo, Dawn

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  32. Feel free to send some my way. Also don't forget you can have that bush in the front landscape. It's going to die from too much sunlight.

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  33. oooh, my very favorite flowering shrub!!!

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  34. Those are truly lovely pics!

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  35. Ok--I'm gonna give it a try! Mine turn out looking like the one that's shrivelly (spelling???) Thanks for the tips, Susie!! Have a great day!

    Hugs!
    Susan

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  36. There's a little something on my blog today for you Miz Susie.....come on over.

    Suzanne

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  37. I just love hydrangeas but can't seem to grow them, even though I see so many in our area. Just beautiful!

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  38. ~Beaautiful Susie!
    I do adore dried Hydrangeas.

    I have a photo of the lovely "M" sign you made in my post today. Have a look if you have a moment. Thanks again my friend.

    ~Enjoy your weekend. :)

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  39. Found your blog via Susanne at Southern Inspiration. So glad I did. Oh, Congrats to your great win from her. You lucky dog! LOL...
    Thanks for your previous post, I needed to hear that one. I don't know about "perfect", BUT I sure know that God loves me just as I am!

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  40. Thanks for the tips. Sometimes I got lucky and other times blaaaa!

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  41. i know this is about hydrangeas but i love the weathervane bunny.

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  42. Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers too, and yes aren't they absolutely gorgeous dried and arranged in a bunch in a small urn?! -tara

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  43. My favorite flowers. They are everywhere around here. Bountiful blue blooms. Love them.
    I'm not very successful at drying them so I often buy dried bunches at our florist!

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  44. I love them. Yes my favourite too!! Ax

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  45. My favorite flower! Mine do GREAT in the ground, but I haven't had any luck drying them yet. Thanks for the tips!

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  46. thanks for the help! i've had good years and bad years for drying them. i hope this will be a good one!

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Thanks for stopping by. It's always so nice to hear from you.

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