Flower pressing preserves blooms flat and dry so you can frame, craft, or archive them with simple tools and steady pressure.
Pressed florals keep color, shape, and memories in a thin, durable form. This guide shows how to press flowers with a book, a wooden press, an iron, or a microwave press, plus ways to prep petals, speed drying, and avoid browning. Whether you’re saving a bouquet or building a small herbarium, you’ll learn safe, repeatable steps that work. You’ll also see where how to do flower pressing differs for quick gifts versus long-lasting keepsakes.
How To Do Flower Pressing At Home: Step-By-Step
You can press plants with a heavy book or a purpose-built press. The flow is simple: choose, prep, layer with absorbent paper, add firm pressure, let them dry, then mount. The steps below mirror methods used by public gardens and herbaria, so your results stay flat and bright.
Pick The Right Blooms
Choose fresh flowers that feel dry to the touch. Flat, single-layer types press fast. Thick peonies and succulents need splitting or a different craft. Harvest late morning once surface moisture is gone. Snip petals or whole sprigs with clean scissors.
Prep For Clean Results
- Remove damp leaves that crowd the bloom.
- Blot with plain tissue to wick surface moisture.
- For bulky centers, slice and open like a book to reduce thickness.
- Lay petals face down when you want a smooth finish.
- Label the paper with plant name and date.
Set Up Your Layers
Work on a flat surface. Build this stack: cardboard or boards, blotting paper, plant, more blotting paper, then board. Tighten straps or screws, or close the book and add extra weight. Keep pressure even across the surface.
First Table: Easy Choices To Start
The picks below press well and keep color when handled gently.
| Flower | Prep Tip | Pressing Ease |
|---|---|---|
| Pansy/Viola | Press whole; arrange petals flat | Very easy |
| Daisy | Use singles; face down | Easy |
| Cornflower | Remove fluffy base; fan petals | Easy |
| Hydrangea | Separate small florets | Easy |
| Rose | Press individual petals or split buds | Moderate |
| Fern | Press a frond; trim thick stems | Easy |
| Herbs (mint, thyme) | Press sprigs; avoid wet stems | Easy |
| Cosmos | Remove pollen; support center | Moderate |
Book Method
Line a heavy book with clean absorbent paper. Place blooms between sheets, close the book, and stack more books on top. Swap damp paper every day or two. Drying takes one to three weeks based on thickness and room humidity.
Wooden Press Method
Build layers of card and blotter in a wooden press. Tighten the wing nuts until firm. Check after two to three days and refresh paper if it feels damp. Keep tightening as layers compress. Most thin petals finish in seven to ten days.
Iron Method (No Steam)
Sandwich the bloom between papers, then between two sheets of plain card. With the iron on low and no steam, press in short lifts. Let the packet cool between presses so moisture can escape. Repeat until the petal feels crisp.
Microwave Press Method
Use a microwave-safe press or a tile-and-paper setup. Heat in short bursts on low power, letting packets cool in between. The goal is dry, not scorched. Start with 10–20 second cycles and extend only if tissue still feels flexible.
How to Do Flower Pressing: Tools And Materials
Here’s a lean kit that works. Upgrade parts over time if you plan to press dozens of sheets.
- Blotting paper, coffee filters, or plain copy paper
- Corrugated card to vent moisture
- Boards, a wood press, or heavy books
- Straps or wing-nut bolts for a press
- Small scissors or snips
- Craft tweezers for delicate petals
- PVA glue and acid-free card for mounting
Why Absorbent Paper Matters
Absorbent liners pull water out of plant tissue while pressure holds shape. Replace damp sheets early in the process to prevent browning. Cardboard spacers help airflow across layers so the packet dries faster and stays flat.
Choosing Paper Types
Blotting paper gives steady results across many species. Coffee filters work for thin petals and small leaves. Copy paper is the budget pick; use extra layers and change them sooner. Avoid patterned tissue and printed pages that can transfer ink.
Color Care
Press petals that are fresh and clean. Keep them out of direct sun while drying. Blues and purples often hold better than reds. Whites can yellow if the paper stays damp, so change liners often during the first days. If you see browning spots, open the packet, replace sheets, and add a fresh card vent.
Room Setup And Timing
Choose a dry room with light airflow. A small fan set far away helps move air without blowing dust into the stack. Warm rooms shorten drying time, but heat tools can scorch if held too long. Plan checks on day two and day five; after that, test a sacrificial bloom weekly.
Mounting, Sealing, And Display
Once dry, lift petals with a clean blade or tweezers. Glue lightly with PVA on the back of stems or thicker veins. Avoid tape, which can stain and peel. Mount on acid-free card, then frame behind glass with a spacer so petals don’t touch the pane. White or cream card keeps color true; dark card suits pale petals.
Second Table: Method Comparison
| Method | Typical Time | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Book | 1–3 weeks | Small batches; low cost |
| Wooden press | 7–14 days | Reliable shape control |
| Iron | 20–40 minutes | Single blooms; quick gifts |
| Microwave press | 5–20 minutes | Speed with careful monitoring |
Pro Tips From Field Work
Press more than you think you need since some pieces will bruise or curl. If a bloom crushes easily, back it with a thin strip of copy paper under the center. Keep one sheet as a “test” during checks so you open the press less often.
For thick pieces, split the head and press each half face down. For long stems, clip flush with the calyx and arrange petals with a toothpick. Ferns and grasses like a light mist before pressing, but make sure surface water is gone before they enter the stack.
Sourcing And Safety Notes
Pick where it’s legal and gentle on the site. Skip protected areas and private land without permission. Avoid plants treated with pesticides if you plan to mount in a child’s room. Dry parts are flammable near heat tools, so keep a clear workspace.
Care And Longevity
Keep finished art away from steam and strong sun. Frames with UV-filter glazing slow fade. A silica gel sachet tucked behind the backing board helps in humid rooms. If petals lift, touch a tiny bead of PVA under the edge and press with wax paper.
Simple Projects To Try
- Shadow box with pressed sprigs and a small label.
- Bookmarks sealed in self-adhesive laminating sheets.
- Greeting cards with a single pansy and a hand-inked date.
- Glass floating frame with meadow snippets aligned by height.
- Calendar grid where each month holds a seasonal bloom.
Common Problems And Fixes
Browning Or Yellowing
Cause: lingering moisture and poor airflow. Fix: change papers early and add corrugated card between layers. Press at room temperature and skip steam settings when using an iron.
Petals Sticking To Paper
Cause: sap and too much heat. Fix: use clean liners and shorter heating bursts. Let packets cool before you press again. If a petal sticks, slide a razor under the edge rather than pulling.
Curled Edges
Cause: pressure not even or material too thick. Fix: add a top card shim over the bloom and tighten. Split dense centers and open them flat before the next run.
What The Pros Do Differently
Botanical collections favor even pressure, frequent paper changes, and clear labels so specimens last for decades. A plant sheet usually includes flowers, leaves, and a sliver of stem so later viewers can ID it. If you want that museum look, mount parts in a natural spread with a small data label in the corner.
Trusted How-To References
For a photo guide to book pressing, see the step list from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. For specimen-style pressing and labeling, read the Royal Horticultural Society page on pressing and collecting samples. Both align with the methods in this tutorial and are handy bookmarks while you practice.
Final Checklist
- Pick dry blooms; harvest late morning.
- Trim bulk; split thick heads.
- Layer paper-plant-paper; add card vents.
- Keep pressure even; tighten as layers settle.
- Swap damp liners early; keep packets out of sun.
- Stop when petals feel crisp and cool.
- Mount with PVA; frame behind glass with a spacer.
This tutorial shows how to do flower pressing with simple gear and repeatable steps. Use the book method when you have time, the wooden press for control, an iron for single blooms, and a microwave press when speed matters. With a small kit and care, your pressed flowers will look clean and last.