What to Do with Old Flowers: 8 Ideas for a Faded Bouquet

[ГОЛОВНЕ ФОТО (прев’ю): відцвілий букет троянд поруч із засушеними квітами в рамці й попурі]

Has your bouquet had its day but you can't bear to bin it? Faded roses, peonies and even greenery still have plenty to give, from pressed flowers in a frame to potpourri, a petal bath and compost for the garden. Here are 8 ideas for an old bouquet and which flowers suit each.

More on this topic: how to dry flowers, how to revive a wilted bouquet, how to make a bouquet last longer.

Dry or press the best blooms

Pick a few flowers that still hold their shape and hang them upside down somewhere dark and dry for 2–3 weeks. For flat flowers and petals use a press: a heavy book lined with paper.

Six drying methods, from books to silica gel and the microwave, are in how to dry flowers from a bouquet.

Dried flowers become framed herbaria, bookmarks, cards, gift-wrap toppers or resin pendants.

[фото: засушені троянди, підвішені голівками вниз]

Potpourri and scented sachets

Pull off rose and peony petals, spread them in one layer on paper and dry for 5–7 days, turning them.

Mix with a cinnamon stick, orange peel, cloves and a few drops of essential oil. Fill linen bags for wardrobes or a bowl for the living room.

[фото: попурі з сушених пелюсток троянд у мисочці й лляні саше]

Petals for the bath

Only fresh, untreated rose petals suit a bath. Shop flowers are often sprayed against pests, so rinse petals well first.

With sensitive skin or allergies, keep dried petals for decoration only.

Compost and garden use

Stems, leaves and petals are good 'green' compost material. Remove ribbon, wire, film and floral foam first.

Chopped stems make mulch under shrubs.

Making the next bouquet last longer

• Change the water every 1–2 days, recut the stems and add the flower food sachet that comes with every UFL bouquet.
• If flowers droop too early, try to save them: how to revive a wilted bouquet.
• The full care checklist: how to make a bouquet last longer.

Fresh bouquets delivered in Kyiv

Every UFL bouquet arrives with a sachet of flower food to keep it fresh longer.

View full-size photo

See roses and roses in a box.

View full-size photo

FAQ

What can I do with faded roses?

Dry the best ones, turn petals into potpourri and compost the stems.

Can bouquet petals go in a bath?

Yes, if fresh and well rinsed; shop flowers are often sprayed against pests.

How long do bouquet flowers take to dry?

Hung upside down, 2–3 weeks; potpourri petals, 5–7 days.

Can floral foam be composted?

No, it's synthetic and goes in general waste.

View full-size photo

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.