''I wish I could keep these flowers forever!'' - A guide to preserving flowers in resin.

daisychainscartert
Feb 24
4 min read

As a florist, one of the most common things I hear from clients is:

“I wish I could keep these flowers forever.”

Whether it’s a bridal bouquet, sympathy arrangement, anniversary roses, or blooms from a loved one’s garden — flowers hold emotion. They mark moments. They carry stories.

The beautiful truth? You can keep them forever — through careful drying and preservation in resin.

Today, I want to take you behind the scenes and share how I transform fresh flowers into timeless keepsakes.

Why Preserve Flowers in Resin?

Flowers are fleeting by nature. That’s part of their magic — but it’s also bittersweet.

Preserving flowers in resin allows you to:

🌸 Keep wedding bouquets as heirloom art
🌸 Memorialise sympathy flowers
🌸 Save anniversary or first-date blooms
🌸 Preserve baby shower or celebration arrangements
🌸 Turn garden flowers into meaningful décor

Unlike traditional pressing, resin preservation maintains much of the flower’s original shape, colour, and dimension. The finished piece becomes functional art — paperweights, blocks, trays, ornaments, jewellery, and more.

Most importantly, it allows you to hold onto a memory in a tangible way.

Step One: Drying Flowers in Silica Gel

Fresh flowers cannot go directly into resin — they contain moisture. If we skipped the drying step, the blooms would brown, rot, or create bubbles inside the resin.

That’s where silica gel comes in.

What is silica gel?

Silica gel is a sand-like drying agent made of silicon dioxide. It gently pulls moisture from flowers while helping them maintain their shape.

The Drying Process

Selecting blooms at peak freshness. Flowers are chosen before they begin to wilt. The better the starting bloom, the better the preserved result.
Preparing the flowers. Stems are trimmed and flowers are cleaned of excess foliage.
Layering in silica gel
- A base layer of silica gel goes into an airtight container.
- Flowers are placed face-up.
- More silica gel is carefully poured over and around the petals.
- Every petal must be fully supported and covered.
Sealing and waiting. The container is sealed for 5–10 days, depending on the flower type.

When removed, the flowers are completely dry — lightweight, delicate, and beautifully preserved in form.

This stage requires patience and precision. Rushing this process is the biggest mistake people make with DIY preservation.

Step Two: Designing the Resin Piece

Once dried, the creative process begins.

Design is everything.

Before any resin is poured, I:

Plan composition and balance
Consider depth and layering
Trim stems if needed
Decide on orientation (front-facing, top-down, floating look)

Some clients want their bouquet recreated exactly as it was held. Others prefer a more artistic, deconstructed design that highlights individual blooms.

This stage feels like floral arranging all over again — but inside a mold instead of a vase.

Step Three: Pouring in Many Layers of Resin

Resin preservation is not a one-and-done pour.

To protect the flowers and create clarity, we build the piece in layers.

Why multiple layers?

Prevent flowers from floating
Reduce trapped air bubbles
Avoid overheating (resin creates heat as it cures)
Create depth and dimension
Ensure crystal-clear results

The Layering Process

Base layer. A thin layer of resin is poured and partially cured.
Positioning the flowers. Dried blooms are placed carefully into the semi-set resin.
Building depth gradually. Additional layers are poured over 24–72 hours. Each layer cures before the next is added.
Bubble removal. Gentle heat is used to release air bubbles.
Final cure. The piece hardens fully over several days.

After curing, the edges are sanded and polished to a glass-like finish.

The result? A crystal-clear botanical time capsule.

The Emotional Side of Preservation

What makes this work so meaningful isn’t just the technique — it’s the emotion.

I’ve preserved:

Wedding bouquets carried down the aisle
Flowers from a final goodbye
First Valentine’s roses
Blooms from a grandmother’s garden

When clients pick up their finished piece, they often run their hands over the surface and say, “I can’t believe it’s still so beautiful.”

That’s the magic.

Benefits of Resin Flower Preservation

Here’s why so many people choose this option:

✨ Longevity

Properly preserved resin pieces can last for decades.

✨ Three-Dimensional Beauty

Unlike pressed flowers, resin keeps blooms full and dimensional.

✨ Functional Art

Paperweights, serving trays, coasters, ring holders, display blocks — these are pieces you can actually use.

✨ Heirloom Quality

These keepsakes can be passed down through generations.

A Gentle Reminder

If you’re considering preserving flowers from a special event:

Keep them hydrated immediately after the event.
Avoid refrigeration (it can cause browning).
Contact your florist as soon as possible — ideally within 48 hours.

Freshness matters.

Flowers Fade — But Memories Don’t Have To

As florists, we work with something inherently temporary. But through silica drying and layered resin preservation, we’re able to transform fleeting beauty into something lasting.

It’s not just about keeping flowers.

It’s about keeping moments.

If you have blooms you’d like to preserve, I’d be honoured to help turn them into a forever piece. 🌸