Article: Air Dried vs. Silica Dried Flowers: What You Should Know Before You Preserve Your Bouquet
Air Dried vs. Silica Dried Flowers: What You Should Know Before You Preserve Your Bouquet
The Instagram photo looked promising enough. A bride had attempted to preserve her own wedding bouquet by hanging it upside down in her closet for six weeks. The "before" photo showed stunning white peonies, blush roses, and eucalyptus. The "after" photo revealed brown, brittle flowers that crumbled at the slightest touch.
"I thought I could save money by doing it myself," she wrote in her message to us. "Now I need professional help. Can you still work with these?"
This scenario plays out more often than you'd think. Well-meaning family or friends attempt DIY preservation, only to discover that not all drying methods are created equal, and resin is a bitch to work with, excuse my French. When it comes to preserving your wedding bouquet, how your flowers are dried can make all the difference in color, structure, and long-term beauty.
The Tale of Two Drying Methods
Air-drying is the oldest preservation method in the book – simply hang your bouquet upside down in a dry, dark room and wait. But there's a reason professional preservation artists have moved beyond this centuries-old technique.
Air-drying relies on natural evaporation, slowly removing moisture from flowers over several weeks. While romantic in theory, this method leaves flowers vulnerable to environmental factors that can dramatically impact the final result. Mold, mildew and a final result that falls apart is common.
Silica gel drying, on the other hand, captures the flowers while they are still fresh, and represents the evolution of flower preservation science. This specialized drying agent actively draws moisture from flowers while maintaining their natural shape, color, and structural integrity.
Air-Dried Reality Check
Let's be honest about what air-drying actually delivers:
Color Fading: Air-dried flowers naturally fade as chlorophyll breaks down and pigments oxidize during the slow drying process. That vibrant red rose becomes dusty burgundy. Bright pink peonies turn pale and washed out.
Structural Compromise: Without controlled moisture removal, petals become papery and brittle. Stems lose their strength. Delicate flowers like tulips, lilies and delphinium often disintegrate completely.
Browning Issues: Extended exposure to air during drying frequently causes petal edges to brown, especially on white flowers. This browning is permanent and cannot be corrected.
Unpredictable Results: Humidity, temperature fluctuations, and air circulation all impact air-drying results. What works in Arizona might fail miserably in Florida. Mold growth in the center of the bouquet (where you can't see until it's too late) is common.
Limited Longevity: Air-dried flowers continue deteriorating over time, becoming increasingly fragile and losing more color with each passing year.
The Silica Gel Advantage
At Wild Coast, we've witnessed the dramatic difference silica gel drying makes in preservation quality. Here's why we've built our entire process around this superior method:
Color Preservation: Silica gel rapidly removes moisture while flowers retain their cellular structure, preserving natural pigments that would otherwise oxidize during slow air-drying.
Shape Retention: The gentle, even moisture removal maintains the three-dimensional form of each flower. Roses keep their layered petal structure. Peonies retain their full, rounded shape.
Texture Quality: Silica-dried flowers maintain a softer, more natural texture compared to the papery brittleness of air-dried blooms.
Controlled Environment: Unlike air-drying's dependence on environmental conditions, silica gel drying happens in controlled conditions that ensure consistent results regardless of weather or season. We often check and replace the silica during drying to maintain the ultimate moisture removal.
Speed and Efficiency: What takes many weeks with air-drying happens in days with silica gel, reducing the time flowers spend vulnerable to deterioration.
Our QuadDry Process: Beyond Single Methods
While silica gel forms the foundation of our drying process, we've developed what we call the QuadDry Preservation Method – combining four different techniques for optimal results:
- Silica Gel Drying: Our primary method for most flowers
- Paper Pressing: Perfect for delicate petals and leaves that change color
- Microwave Pressing: Rapid processing for most flower types
- Freeze Drying: Reserved for flowers requiring specialized treatment
This multi-method approach allows us to optimize drying for each flower type. It's precision preservation tailored to each bloom's unique characteristics.
When Air-Dried Flowers Come to Us
We regularly receive bouquets that have been air-dried, and while we can work with them, the limitations are significant:
Restricted Options: Air-dried flowers are often too brittle for whole flower preservation, limiting options to pressed flower techniques or smaller accent pieces.
Color Challenges: The fading and browning that occurs during air-drying cannot be fully reversed, even with our color correction services. We cannot always reach the inner cervices of you whole dried flower with color correction.
Structural Limitations: Brittle stems and fragile petals may not survive the shipping and resin encasement process, further limiting design possibilities.
The Replication Solution
For brides who discover their air-dried preservation attempts haven't delivered the results they hoped for, we offer bouquet replication services. Using your wedding photos as reference, we source fresh flowers identical to your original bouquet and preserve them using our professional silica gel methods.
"I wish I'd known about the difference before I tried to preserve my bouquet myself," shares Sarah from Orlando. "When I saw the comparison between my air-dried flowers and the replicated bouquet Wild Coast created, it was like seeing my wedding day flowers come back to life."
The $150 replication fee often costs less than many couples spend on shipping their bouquet overnight but delivers professional-quality results that will remind you of your wedding day!
The Bottom Line
Your wedding bouquet represents a significant investment – both financially and emotionally. The flowers that graced your ceremony, held meaning throughout your special day, and appear in countless photographs deserve preservation methods that honor their importance.
While air-drying might seem like a simple solution, the reality is that this method rarely delivers results worthy of such precious memories. Silica gel drying, combined with professional expertise and controlled conditions, ensures your flowers are preserved at their peak beauty.
At Wild Coast, we've seen the difference quality drying makes in thousands of preservation projects. The choice between air-dried and silica-dried flowers isn't just about preservation method – it's about ensuring your wedding memories are captured with the beauty and permanence they deserve.
Ready to preserve your bouquet with professional silica gel drying? Contact us to learn more.
Written by Michelle Besu
