 How
To Make Potpourri
- BY: PIONEER THINKING
Where to get your ingredients:
Ask at the florist shop
for any discarded flowers, or dry out your own flowers.
Harvesting your ingredients
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Handle your herbs and flowers
carefully to avoid bruising them. Once the have been bruised
you will have lost any value in them for their essential oils.
The best time to collect leaves,
roots, flowers and seeds is in the early morning after the dew
has evaporated.
Choose plants that are clean,
free of any pests or diseases. Choose flowers that are newly
opened.
*Always collect 4 times the amount
you will need for the final potpourri mix as flowers, leaves
etc will shrink when dried. |
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Drying Methods
The drying process usually takes
up to 2 weeks in general. There are two processes for drying
flowers and herbs. * Keep in a warm dark place that has good
air circulation.
Air Drying: Using a window screen works quite well.
It allows air circulation around the plant material. Place the
flowers and or herbs on a single layer. Do not pack them tightly
together or on top of each other or they will decompose. Takes
about one week to be completely dried out.
Hanging: Fasten together several small bunches,
tie the stems off with elastics or string. Hang them upside down
to dry out.
Storing The Potpourri
Store your "New"
potpourri in airtight containers or plastic bags. Store in a
cool dark place until needed.
Making the potpourri
To make the potpourri you basically
need four main ingredients.
Flowers & leaves
Essential oils
Spices and Herbs
Fixative.
Click here for Potpourri recipes
from our "STILLROOM"
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