How to preserve flowers from your favourite bouquet

As Valentine’s Day approaches, lovebirds across the Netherlands are turning to Google to search for Valentines Day flowersto ensure their significant others receive a bouquet showing their love and appreciation in time for the big day. 

 

However, Valentine's Day is a fleeting experience for many—with just one day in our calendars to celebrate our relationships—and, sadly, any Valentine’s Day flowers most likely won’t last until March, as a usual bouquet survives for 7-10 days. 

 

For those wanting to extend that feeling of appreciation and romance, preserving your bouquet can be the perfect way to keep hold of any flowers. 

 

As such, we at Euroflorist have put together our top 5 methods to preserve flowers and bouquets - which, coincidentally, can also serve as a romantic date night with your partner.


How long do flowers last?

Unfortunately, fresh flowers don’t last forever. Luckily, Euroflorist bouquets come with a 7-day freshness guarantee, but no bouquets will last forever! 

However, many options exist to help us preserve any special flowers for weeks, months, or even years.

 

Creative ways to preserve your Valentine’s day flowers

1. Create pressed flowers & get creative

One of the simplest ways to preserve flowers is by pressing them, the best thing about this technique is that you can use this activity for multiple date night ideas. 

For date-night one, simply place individual blooms from your valentine’s bouquet between parchment paper and press them inside a heavy book for about two weeks. 

When your pressed flowers have dried you can have your second date-night. There are a variety of things you can do with your pressed flowers, this could be arranging them in a frame, using them in greeting cards, or even decorating a scrapbook of your favourite memories together.

 

2. Use resin for DIYs

For a fun and creative night, use silica gel to dry your flowers and then embed them into resin to make beautiful coasters, ensuring your flowers last forever in a stylish and practical way.

Silica gel is a fantastic option when wanting to preserve flowers while maintaining their shape and colour.

It’s essential that you dry out any flowers before you put them in your resin. So, on your first date night, before you dry out your flowers, remove any stems or imperfections to prepare them for preservation. 

Fill a tupperware with silica gel, and then bury your flowers in the container, using a scoop to make sure that you get silica gel between all of the petals. 

Once you have your dried flowers, they can be displayed in shadow boxes or turned into beautiful resin coasters - turning date night two into a fun and creative one! 

 

3. Dry your flowers for romantic candle making

Extend the life of your bouquet and infuse your home with love by pressing petals into homemade candles.

First, press and dry your bouquet - you can then make a date night of your candle making by experimenting with different flowers and scents - creating your own long-lasting centrepiece to decorate your home. 

You can use candle making sets to melt your wax together, and then you can add your own dried flowers and pour them into the molds. The soft floral fragrance will remind you both of your special Valentine’s Day moment every time you light the candle.

 

4. Do your own sip and paint 

For a truly timeless keepsake, reimagine your bouquet as a work of art! 

For a cheap date night idea, spend the evening painting your bouquet together to turn them into a beautiful canvas keepsake. 

All you need for this creative craft are a canvas, brushes and paints of your choice such as watercolours or acrylic paints. This artistic approach captures the beauty of your flowers in a way that will never fade, and is totally personal to your style. 

 

5. Use dried flowers for home decor

If you prefer a low-effort method, air drying is a great choice. You and your partner can choose the flowers you want to create keepsakes of, and simply hang the flowers upside down in a dark, dry space for a few weeks. 

Once dried, you can display your preserved flowers in a vase or you can create a homemade wreath for your wall.

 

Preserve your bouquets and your memories

Whether through crafts, candles, or artwork, you can turn your bouquet into an experience that deepens your connection and creates memories that will last you longer than just Valentines’ Day.

Author

David Denyer

Euroflorist's Flower Expert

With over 35 years of floristry experience, David Denyer is a renowned master in his field. His talent and artistic vision have earned him numerous accolades and awards, establishing him as one of the industry's leading figures. David has captivated audiences worldwide, showcasing his passion for floristry in Europe, China, Australia, and America. His captivating demonstrations have left a lasting impression on floral enthusiasts globally. In 2023, David made a memorable appearance on the prestigious television show, Gardeners World, further solidifying his reputation as an exceptional florist. David's journey to success began in 1996 when he was named Interflora "Florist of the Year." Since then, he has represented the United Kingdom in the "Europa Cup" and achieved consecutive Chelsea Gold Medals and Best in Show titles at the renowned Chelsea Flower Show from 2000 to 2003. In July 2004, David was once again named Interflora "Florist of the Year" and led his team to victory at the Interflora World Cup in Melbourne, Australia. He continued to impress with another Chelsea Gold Medal in 2005 and received a Gold Medal in 2011 for his floral installation titled "A Sense of Perspective." David's Accolades: July 1996: Interflora "Florist of the Year"; September 1999: Represented the UK in the "Europa Cup" in Austria; May 2000-2005: 6x Consecutive Chelsea Gold Medal and Best in Show - Professional Floristry; July 2004: Interflora "Florist of the Year"; September 2004: Interflora World Cup Winners in Melbourne, Australia; 2011: Chelsea Gold Medal for "A Sense of Perspective" floral installation; 2023: Appeared on Gardeners World in 2023; David's vast experience and expertise now benefits Eflorist customers. Understanding the emotional power of flowers, he ensures that every customer receives the utmost delight when enjoying their thoughtfully sent bouquet.