When a fresh hydrangea becomes a dried flower, how much of its soft color and rounded shape will remain? We placed fresh blooms in desiccant and photographed the changes after about one week.
In this attempt, pink and pale purple tones remained, but we did not retain the fresh flower head's rounded shape. In the photographs, the dried bloom looks more muted and purple, with a different arrangement of overlapping florets.
This article records one making attempt: what worked, what changed, and what we would adjust next time.
What we tried: two orientations in desiccant
We shortened the stems of freshly picked hydrangeas and buried the flower heads in desiccant. We tried placing the front side facing up and the back side facing up.
- Flowers: freshly picked hydrangeas
- Orientations tried: front side up and back side up
- Removal time: after about one week
- Approximate temperature at picking: 20°C / 68°F
- Observations: remaining color and the shape of the flower head
The temperature refers to the approximate conditions at picking. It is not a measurement of a constant storage temperature. We did not record the desiccant's product name, material, particle size, or storage humidity, so these results cannot establish the performance of a particular silica gel product.
Before drying: the front and back of the bloom
From the front, overlapping florets form a rounded head. From the back, small branches spread out to support them.
Our earlier record of comparing rose-drying methods prompted us to see whether hydrangeas could also retain both color and volume. This was not a controlled comparison between roses and hydrangeas.
Adding desiccant from the front and back
We first photographed the flower resting on desiccant in each orientation. With the front facing up, the surface of the bloom is visible; with the back facing up, the central stem and branches are visible.
We then added desiccant from each side. The following photographs were taken during the covering process. Parts of the bloom and stem are still visible, so these do not show the final, fully covered state.
For a related look at drying materials, see our article on silica gel particle size and handling, using roses. Applying those ideas to hydrangeas calls for a small trial that accounts for the flower head's size and structure.
After about one week: color remained, but the shape changed
The flowers still showed pale purple and pink tones when we removed them after about one week. They were not exactly the same color as the fresh blooms. Differences in lighting also mean that we cannot calculate a color-retention percentage from these photographs.
Retaining some color does not mean the fresh color stays completely unchanged. For the idea of enjoying a flower's own color and how it differs from adding color, see our introduction to naturally colored, undyed dried flowers.
The change in shape was more noticeable to us than the change in color. During this attempt, we found that the originally rounded head had become flatter. The photographs show less even overlap between the florets and a different outline from the fresh bloom.
Retaining color and retaining the fresh flower's shape were two separate things to assess. Some color can remain even when the original volume does not.
The final front and back photographs do not separately document the outcome of each burial orientation under matching conditions. They therefore cannot tell us whether placing the front or back facing up preserves shape better.
Why did the head become flatter?
The weight of the added desiccant, or the way the underside and gaps were supported, may have contributed. Adding material from above may not have provided enough support to keep the individual florets in their original positions.
We did not isolate shrinkage during drying or changes caused by handling at removal, either. It would be too strong to attribute the result to the weight of the desiccant alone.
Nor does this attempt establish that desiccant cannot be used for hydrangeas. Mississippi State University Extension's hydrangea guide includes silica gel drying as a method for retaining color.
What we would change in the next attempt
Alongside orientation, we would document how the bloom is supported while adding the drying material. For general silica gel handling, the Iowa State University Extension flower-drying guide provides useful guidance.
- Use a sealable container when drying with silica gel.
- Add material gradually, supporting the florets without displacing them.
- Check the product instructions and flower condition rather than relying on elapsed days alone.
- Remove material from above first, then gently support the bloom from underneath.
Recording the desiccant, flower condition, and storage conditions, then photographing each orientation's result under matching light, would make the comparison more useful. These are proposed improvements, not results from a further successful trial.
Common questions
Will hydrangeas always dry in one week?
We removed these flowers after about one week. That is not a universal completion time: the flower condition, drying material, container, and other conditions can affect how long drying takes.
Should the front or back face up?
Our photographs do not establish which is better. In a future trial, we would keep the other conditions consistent and record each orientation's finished shape separately.
Would preserved hydrangeas be a better choice?
This attempt did not compare desiccant drying with preserved-flower processing, so we cannot say which is better. Our guide to preserved and dried flowers explains their differences and possible uses.
What this attempt taught us
The dried hydrangea retained soft traces of color. Keeping its fresh, rounded shape will need more work. Looking at color and shape separately helped us identify what we would change next.
For care after drying, see our guide to fading and mold prevention. More making records and ideas for enjoying dried flowers are collected in the Day Tales guide.