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How to Dye Flowers Quickly and Easily
Though nature has provided us with brilliant flowers in different colors, patterns and designs, you still might have seen unique, dyed flowers in a florist shop or wedding with that would have seemed unusual and lead you to ask how they were dyed. Such flowers don’t grow that way naturally. Instead, they are dyed in different ways which give them their unique, beautiful look. In some cases, it appears as if they are naturally colored that way. If you want to know how to dye flowers and are thinking it might be a difficult task, then you are wrong. It is simple and best of all, inexpensive. You don’t need any special skills or tools for dyeing a flower. Take a look at these steps and learn how to dye flowers.
- The first thing you need to do is order fresh cut flowers and upon delivery, fill your vases and buckets with several inches of clean water. You’ll want to make a note of how many cups of water are actually used to determine how much dye to apply.
- Next, add 20 to 40 drops of food color (any color you like) for every 2 cups of water in you vase or bucket. The number of drops you add also depend on the type of shade you want the flower to have (eg light blue vs dark blue). If you want a light or mild color effect , then 20 drops will be more than enough. If you want a vibrant shade then you can increase the number of drops of the food color.
- Make sure the cut flowers you use have long stems as the water will flow in from the roots, which will then change your flowers’ color. Cut 2 inches diagonally off the end of these stems with floral shears or a sharp knife to make the stems pointed. Collect all the flowers with stems pointing downwards.
- Now, place your flowers into a vase or bucket and store in a cool place while letting them hydrate for about 24 hours. The veins inside the stems will suck the dyed water, and continue to do so as it reaches the flower petals. At that point, you will see a change in color. More exposure to dyed water will lead to increased coloring of your flowers and petals.
- Once 24 hours have been past, check your flowers for additional change in color. If it’s the same color that you desired then great otherwise you can always add more food color.
Additional tips:
- Make sure you choose those flowers that are fresh. Old and wilted flowers do not absorb the dye well and you won’t get the desired color. Sometimes, the flowers don’t get the color at all.
- It is preferable to use white flowers for dyeing as they achieve perfect color. This does not mean that you cannot dye colored flowers. A light colored flowered can also be dyed well and will create unique coloring as compared to using a white flower.
- It is recommended to use a glass or ceramic vase instead of a plastic jar or glass. It will be easier for you to remove stains from such material.
- Note that should you decide to place your dyed flowers into a new vase with clean, uncolored water, the dye remaining in the flower stems will leak and cause some dyeing of your clean water. This will gradually happen over many hours, however.
- For special events, we recommend experimenting prior to your occasion to ensure you come out with the right “recipe”. Then you can be sure you have the perfect diy wedding flowers at the right color.