How to Make Wax Flowers: Preserving Beauty
Flowers don’t last long; however, you can preserve flowers in a lot of different ways. One way to do that is by making wax flowers. When you wax flowers, they bloom for a much longer time.
As you read this, you can learn the following:
* How to Select the Right Flower to Wax
* Why you should wax flowers
* Items needed to make wax flowers
* Step by step guide on making wax flowers
* How to care for wax flowers
* How to display your wax flowers
How to Select the Right Flower to Wax
You should be choosy about the flower you wax; ensure that you select flowers that are fully open and are in their prime. In preserving flowers, the fresher one should be your top choice; this is because they last longer than older ones when preserved. Before you start waxing a flower, make sure that you get rid of withered blooms that remain on the stem.
Why You Should Wax Flowers
One of the most amazing ways to enjoy the beauty of your flower all year round is by preserving it with wax; this way, your bulb is never goes out of season. Wax flowers live longer than non-wax flowers.
If you dip the bloom of your flower in melted wax, it makes your bulb to last longer. The most appropriate time to dip a flower in melted wax is when it is almost out of bloom.
Wax flowers are highly crucial in the candle making business.
Items Needed to Make Wax Flowers
* Spoon
* Double Boiler
* Scissors
* Toothpick
* Rubber Bands
* Floral Foam
* Tweezers
* Paraffin Wax
* Tray Lined with Parchment Paper
* Display Dome (Optional)
* Small Cup (Optional)
* Candle Pillar (Optional)
Step by Step Guide on Making Wax Flowers
1. Be sure to use only flowers that are fresh and blooming; ensure that the flower you’re using has a firm petal. Those that are delicate often get damaged while you’re waxing them. Some top choice flowers for making wax flowers are lilies, roses, daisies, tulips, paperwhites, and stephanotis. A flower that has a bloom or coating that is naturally waxy is also a fantastic choice. It would be best if you did not use pansies because they whither when dipped in hot wax.
2. Pick a double boiler and dip a small quantity of wax in it. The paraffin wax should not be more than a pound in weight. Paraffin wax catches fire quickly. As such, never melt a paraffin wax directly over a flame.
3. For you to get a high quality of wax flower, the temperature of the double boiler mustn’t be more than 130-150 degrees Celsius. Monitor the temperature with a thermometer to be sure that it doesn’t go out of that range. This temperature is essential because waxes don’t flow in cold temperatures. After all, cold temperatures prevent the wax from covering the flower adequately. Also, if the temperature is too hot, it scorches the flowers and causes them to whither.
4. Ensure that all flower stems are not shorter than 2 inches, and no longer than three inches.
5. Carry your flower, hold the stem, and dip its head in the wax. When you’re lowering the head of the flower into the wax, ensure that you tilt it a little. Be sure that the flower does not touch the side of the boiler. Lift the head out of the wax the moment you dip it in. Allow the excess wax on the body of the petals to fall back into the boiler before making the flowers stand in an upright position.
If the flower you’re waxing has multiple petals, then the best way to wax the flower is by spooning the wax into the middle of the flower, so that it is well covered. For small flowers, you can use tweezers, or use a small object to spoon the wax into the middle of the flower petal, and then dip the head of the flower entirely into the wax.
6. Allow each flower to cool. You can help the flowers to cool faster by placing the them on their side, on a parchment-paper-lined tray, or placing the stem of each flower in floral foam. Your bulb should cool and harden in less than 5 minutes. Ensure that you don’t shake the flower vigorously at this stage. Because it can damage the stem due to the extra weight
. 7. The next thing is to wax the stem of the flower. After the bloom has cooled and hardened, dip the stem of your flower in the double boiler. Be sure that you don’t hold the bloom too hard so you do not damage it.
How to Care for Wax Flowers
1. Display wax flowers in an environment where the temperature is cool. Keep them away from air vents and direct sunlight. Areas that have an extreme temperature (hot or cold) can damage wax flowers. Therefore, you should keep them away from such areas.
2. Always check the water level and add preservatives to elongate the lifespan of the flower.
3. Remove any flower and foliage that is dying or damaged.
4. Cut a few inches from the flower stems every week, to ensure that it maintains a proper water absorption rate. Please don’t cut the stem straight! Try to cut them an angle so that they don’t rest on the base of the vase.
How to Display Your Wax Flowers
There are endless options for you to display your wax flowers. You can use them to make cards, wrap a gift, display them in a strategic location in your house, or arrange them to affect the mood of the environment. The only thing that can limitation in displaying your new wax flowers is your imagination.
A very common way to display wax flowers is by putting them in a container and placing the container under a bell jar or centerpiece. If you’re using your flower as a centerpiece, then fill the container with floral foam and snip the flowers in varying lengths; therefore, this method helps create a dome shape.
All in all, waxing your flowers can be a great way to ensure a longer bloom. We suggest choosing some of your favorite flowers and giving it a try as the bright seasons come to an end. Be sure to choose a flower that is in its blooming prime and follow the directions! Wax your flowers to preserve their amazing beauty.
