- How To Make
Potpourri
- BY PIONEER THINKING
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Where to get your ingredients:
Ask at the
florist shop for any discarded flowers, or dry out your own flowers.
Harvesting your ingredients
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.
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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