Flower
Silica Gel
Silica is a compound composed of silicon and oxygen. It is a form of silicon dioxide synthetically prepared from sodium silicate, a brittle, glassy, and porous substance. It is a safe chemical that helps keep the product dry by absorbing moisture. However, it is safe but not for eat and should always be kept out of the reach of children.
Silica gel does many amazing things, including drying flowers and preserving them with good shape. Two types of silica gel are most commonly available for drying flowers:
1) In powder form.
2) In the form of beads (mixture of blue/orange and white silica gel)
Powder Form
Beads Form
Powder
Flower Silica Gel (Powder)
Powdered silica gel is the powdered version of silica gel. Which dries the flower in a beautiful and smooth manner without any major change in its proper shape. When powder silica gel poured over the flower to dry the flower, the silica gel powder reaches every frill of the flower and plays an effective role in keeping dry each petal of the flower from its proper place. Therefore, silica gel in powder form is most popular for drying these flowers.
Beads
Flower Silica Gel (Beads)
Another popular form of silica gel for drying flowers is silica gel beads mixing color. Which is made by mixing white silica gel with blue or orange silica gel. The beads silica gel dry the flowers much faster than the other silica gel, but sometimes the beads stain the flowers, which can ruin the shape of the flowers. The specialty of this silica gel is that when the silica gel expires, the blue/orange silica gel changes there color to indicate recycling.
How to dry flower by Flower Silica Gel
How you dry flowers with Flower Silica Gel is detailed below:
Step 1: First you get an air-tight box, make sure your box is airtight.
Step 2: Then clean the box and wipe it well. If any extra water vapor on the flowers you wanted to dry, then gently wipe off water that remaining on them. And prepare the flower for drying by cutting off the stems & leaves of the flower.
Step 3: Once the box and flowers are ready, place the powdered silica gel inside the box and gently place the prepared flowers on top of the silica gel and spread the silica powder around and on top of the flowers.
Step 4: Finally seal the box well and store the box in dry & warm place to dry the flowers thoroughly.
Step 5: The flowers usually take 5 to 7 days to dry, avoid opening the box during this time. In some cases it may take longer than the stipulated time.
When the flowers are dry, store them in an airtight box or air-tight bag. Or you can make flowers in different designs with epoxy resin to enhance the beauty of the room or office. This way you can keep your beloved memorial flowers intact forever.
How to recycle Flower Silica Gel
There are two methods you can use to recycle Flower Silica Gel,
[Method-1] Take a dry and water/oil free frypan, then the Flower Silica Gel into frypan, then heat continuously for 8 to 10 minutes on a stove or gas stove. Now cool the silica gels in a dry place for 4 to 5 minutes and make them reusable.
[Method-2] Heat in microwave oven at 70° to 120°C or (160° to 250°F) for 15 – 20 minutes. And make it reusable.
FAQs
Question: How much silica gel is needed to dry a flower? And how long will this silica gel last?
Answer: It is not possible to say exactly how much silica gel is needed to dry a flower because the essence and size of each flower is different. And silica gel generally has no shelf life.
However, a specific figure is mentioned for these two questions, where the answer to the two questions will be found:
Flower silica gel (Powder/Beads) can absorb 35% to 40% of its own weight in moisture. For example: 100 grams of silica gel can absorb 35 to 40 grams of moisture or water.
Silica gel expires when it is saturated with moisture and is indicated for recycling.
Question: How many times can silica gel be recycled?
Answer: Silica gel can be recycled several times. After several times recycle it becomes weak, then you will need to age purchase new silica gel again.