The best way to dry lavender flowers and keep the color is to use a combination of drying methods. First, you should remove the stems from the lavender and tie each flower bunch together with a rubber band.
Hang the flowers upside down in a warm, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight. Check the flowers every few days and remove any that show signs of mold or other deterioration. As they dry, the flowers will lose their color, so it’s important to finish the process as quickly as possible.
After the lavender has dried for a few weeks, it is important to store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. To maintain the color of the dried lavender, you can also consider using a dehydrator or microwave.
To use a dehydrator, simply spread the dried lavender across the racks and use the low heat setting. This quick-drying method will help maintain the natural color of the lavender. When using a microwave, spread the flowers on a plate, cover with a damp paper towel and microwave for 1 min.
Be very careful when removing the towel as the flowers will be very hot when they are done.
Following these steps, you should be able to dry and preserve the natural color of the lavender flowers.
Can you dry lavender after it blooms?
Yes, you can dry lavender after it blooms. You will want to cut the blooms, stems and leaves of your lavender plants as soon as they start to open and/or become fragrant. Make sure to select stems that are dry and hard, which indicates that the plants are ready to harvest.
You should then tie the stems together into bundles of about five to ten stems, keeping the stems all the same size. Hang the bundles upside down in a warm and dry location with lots of air circulation, such as in a kitchen, garage, or porch.
The bundles will usually take one to three weeks to fully dry, and you should check them throughout the process to make sure that they don’t become brittle. Once the lavender is dried, use your hands to remove the blossoms from the stem, and store in an airtight container in a cool, dry location for up to one year.
Where do you hang lavender to dry?
The best place to hang lavender to dry is in a well-ventilated room, away from direct sunlight. Consider hanging the lavender in bunches or by individual stems, using string or twine to attach the stem ends to clothes hangers or objects suspended from the ceiling.
As the lavender is drying, make sure to gently toss the bunches daily to expose all the plant material evenly to the air for thorough drying. During the drying process, make sure to keep the room temperature consistent, preferably between 70 and 85 Fahrenheit (21-29 Celsius), as a lower temperature can cause the lavender to dry too slowly and a higher temperature can cause the essential oils to evaporate.
Finally, make sure to wear a mask to protect against the strong fragrance of the flowers.
How do you dry lavender after cutting?
Drying lavender after cutting requires some patience, but it’s a relatively straightforward process. First, ensure you’ve cut the lavender stems long enough to easily work with them in the drying process.
Once you’ve chosen your stems, carefully tie them together at the base into small, neat bundles. These bundles should be no more than two to three inches thick. Next, hang the bundles upside down in a cool, dark area with low humidity, such as a closet, shed, or pantry.
For best results, use a string or twine to hang the bundles, securing it firmly at the top. Leave enough room between the bundles to ensure good air circulation. Finally, check the lavender periodically over the next two to three weeks.
Once dry, the stems should be brittle and easily breakable, and the flowers should have a crisp texture. At this point, you can remove the flowers from the stems and store them for later use.
When should lavender be picked for drying?
Lavender should be picked for drying when the flowers are just starting to open and before the buds turn brown. The optimal time for harvesting is typically in the morning when the leaves are dry and the essential oils are most concentrated.
To ensure the best quality, pick the lavender when the bracts (young flower buds) are purple. It is best to pick the stems early in the day, as the sun slowly warms the oils, making them more fragrant.
After harvesting, cut the stems at a length of 10-12 inches and strip off any leaves that are below the flower head. Tie the flowers into small bundles and hang in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
Drying takes up to 3 weeks, depending on temperature and humidity. Once the bundles are dry you can store the dried lavender in airtight containers to preserve its potency.
What can I do with fresh lavender?
Fresh lavender can be used for many different purposes! The best part is that you don’t have to do anything to it – it can be enjoyed as is or incorporated into drinks, food, and other items for its pleasant scent and flavor.
For one, you can break off individual flowers and use it to decorate desserts, salads, or cocktails. It offers a delicate flavor to sweet dishes or drinks and makes them visually appealing as well.
You can also put it in a sachet to fill your home with its wonderful aroma. Lavender oils are also available in health and beauty shops, so you can use them in your bath, body scrub, facial steam, and more.
Moreover, lavender is known to reduce stress and improve sleep quality. So if you’re having difficulty sleeping, consider switching out your usual bedsheet with one that has lavender sachets tucked inside.
And if you’re feeling stressed, you can make a lavender eye pillow and tuck it away in the fridge. When you need it, just put it on your eyes and allow its calming scent to work its magic.
These are just some of the things you can do with lavender. With its versatility and pleasant scent, it can be used in many applications for your well-being.
Can I dry lavender in a vase?
Yes, you can dry lavender in a vase. To do so, you will need to strip the flower stems of their leaves and bunches the stems together. You can then secure the lavender bunch with a rubber band or twine and hang it in an upside-down position inside of your vase.
Make sure to keep the vase lid open or the flowers won’t dry properly. Place the vase in an area that is out of direct sunlight and avoid moisture. Allow the lavender to dry for 7 to 10 days. After that, you can store the lavender in the vase or some other container for as long as you need.
How do you know when to cut lavender?
To determine the best time to cut lavender, you should look for when the flower heads are full and the color has deepened. To maximize the amount of color, scent and overall size of the flowers, aim to cut the flower spikes when they are between one-third and two-thirds open.
Wait as long as possible before cutting so that the flower heads have had a chance to fully develop, but do it before the petals start to brown and the lavender starts to die back. To ensure that a second flush of lavender flowers, you can cut the flower heads about 5-7 inches below the flower heads.
This will encourage another early flowering. Try to get your cuts in early in the morning, since the stems will be most full and fragrant then.
What happens if you don’t prune lavender?
If you fail to prune your lavender, it could potentially become overgrown and less productive. Without proper pruning throughout the growing season, a lavender bush can become disordered and resemble a large, untrimmed shrub.
In some cases, lavender can completely lose its shape and create a weedy appearance. Furthermore, neglected, unpruned lavender will produce many smaller and fewer blooms, if any at all, which can impact the plant’s ability to attract pollinators and, as a consequence, its seed yield.
Lastly, when lavender is unpruned, it is more susceptible to various diseases and pests, making it less likely to reach its maximum health potential. In short, not pruning lavender can be detrimental to its health, productivity, and appearance.
Do lavender plants need to be cut back?
Lavender plants typically need to be cut back each season to promote healthy growth and flowering. Pruning can help encourage more compact growth, more abundant blooms, and better-shaped plants. It’s best to prune lavenders in late winter, early spring, or late summer.
When cutting back lavenders, remove the oldest stems first, cutting them down to the basal level. Remove about one-third of the plant each season. When cutting away the stems, leave some of the leaves around the base of the plant for photosynthesis and to protect the plant from extreme temperatures.
You should always use sharp, clean pruning shears when cutting back plants, and avoid leaving sharp pruning stubs. Lavenders can also be lightly tidied up and deadheaded regularly to maintain their neat shape and promote re-blooming.
How many times a year does lavender bloom?
Lavender typically blooms two times a year – once in the spring and once in the late summer or early fall. Its flowering period typically lasts 8-10 weeks. Lavender normally needs at least 8 hours of sunlight each day in order to reach its full bloom potential.
Depending on the climate and the specific variety of lavender, it can begin to bloom anywhere between April to July in the northern hemisphere and in October to December in the southern hemisphere. The optimal time to prune your lavender plants to prevent them from becoming too woody and promote abundant growth is right after the spring blooming season.
Should you deadhead lavender?
Yes, you should deadhead lavender for several reasons. Deadheading lavender is an important part of keeping it healthy. When you deadhead, you remove any flowers that have already bloomed, providing your lavender with the energy it needs to grow new flowers.
Deadheading also helps prevent your lavender from reseeding, which can lead to overgrowth and cause additional work for you. Additionally, deadheading can help your lavender look nicely groomed and attractive.
The best time to deadhead lavender is when the flowers start to fade, which is usually in late summer or early fall. When deadheading, be sure to snip off each bloom with sharp garden clippers and make your cuts just above the bottommost set of leaves on the stem.
This will ensure that your lavender continues to grow healthy and look its best.
How can you tell if dried lavender is bad?
Dried lavender should be dry, brittle, and have an intense floral scent. If it looks slimy or damp, has an off odor, or is discolored, then it has gone bad and should not be used. To check if your dried lavender is good, take a pinch between your fingers and give it a sniff.
If it has a faded, musty, or mildewy scent, then it has gone bad. Additionally, you can check the texture of the lavender. Good lavender should have a brittle texture, rather than feeling soft or moist.
If the lavender is not clearly dry or brittle, then it may have gone bad and should not be used.
Why is my lavender turning GREY?
It sounds like your lavender is experiencing a fungus infection known as “lavender gray mold. ” This is a common problem that can be caused by a number of factors, including prolonged exposure to wet soil, poor air circulation, or an abundance of shade.
Gray mold initially appears as tiny black or brown spots on the leaves of the lavender plant. Over time, these spots will spread, eventually causing the entire plant to turn an ashy gray color. If left unchecked, the fungus can cause the leaves to prematurely drop from the plant.
The best way to prevent your lavender from turning gray is to ensure the plants have plenty of sunlight and good air circulation. If your lavenders are planted in containers, make sure to empty out the containers after watering, and avoid overwatering.
If the fungus has already taken hold, you may need to apply a fungicide to help control the spread. Applying a fungicide when temperatures are below 80 degrees Fahrenheit will increase its effectiveness.