The World of Cut Flowers

Often, when you dry flowers they lose their color. But if you want to enhance the colors of your dried flowers try using artist’s colors and follow our simple techniques.

For this you will need:

·        Permanent Green Light color

·        Permanent Rose color

·        Bright Red

·        Chinese White

·        A size # 2 pointed brush

·        An inexpensive palette

·        A medicine dropper to add small quantities of water

·        Liquid detergent added to some water to keep the paint from bleeding

Now squeeze a drop of paint that is half the size of a pea on the palette. Add drops of water and mix with a toothpick or your brush. Try the mixture on a petal. If it is too dark, add a bit of white paint. Or if it is too thick, add a few more drops of water.

When you are coloring ferns or small leaves work on an aluminum foil or waxed paper so it can collect extra paint, which can be used on another leaf. Leaves should be lightly brushed, and never saturated with paint. Leave it on the waxed paper or on a computer paper to dry. Do not use newsprint. Usually it will dry quickly enough so you can use it in your design.

Color washed material always lasts longer than those that are not touched up with color. If you can keep them away from direct sunlight the color will last up to six to eight years. Do not color wash very thin flowers because they might roll up and disintegrate.

 Many flowers actually do not need color washing because they have naturally lasting colors. Flowers like Delphinium and Larkspur can hold their colors for years if kept away from sunlight. Blue Scilla also holds its blue color. Forget-me-nots are occasionally pink when they are dried but they retain their soft blue as well. Christmas Cactus, Cyclamen, Marigold, Buttercups and Coreopsis retain their colors as well. But violets need color washing after they are dried. But most wild flowers are too thin to be successfully color washed.