In this post, I’m talking about how to dry lavender flowers. I always have some on hand, as there are so many different uses for it. You can use dried lavender in potpourri, pop it under your pillow to aid sleep, keep moths and insects at bay, make lavender-infused oil, or add it to your homemade soaps, DIY scrubs, bath salt recipes and so many more products.
And how about its culinary uses? Teas, biscuits, ice cream, and honey are but a few things that can be infused with this wonder plant from mother nature lavender.
So, what is the best way to dry the lavender plant and preserve its properties, scent, and color?
How To Cut The Lavender Ready For Drying
Although the lavender plant’s flowers and buds have the most aroma and therapeutic values, it’s easier to dry the plant while retaining a good bit of the stem.
When cutting the lavender plant, you want to leave around 6 inches (15 centimeters) of stem below the flowers. This should cover anything you intend to use the plant for.
For example, if you want to hang the lavender or stand it in a vase, you would need the stems to be as long as possible. Although you may not need any stem for potpourri or cooking, it is easier to dry the lavender with the stem still attached.
How To Dry The Lavender Plant
There are several methods for drying lavender flowers, which are very effective at keeping their appearance and scent. It’s just a matter of how much time you have, what equipment you have, and which will be easier for you.
Let’s have a look at some of the most common methods.
How To Hang Dry Lavender
One of the easiest methods of drying lavender is to hang it by the stems and let it dry naturally. On the plus side, these decorative bunches of lavender hanging around the house look fantastic and smell amazing. On the downside, this method takes time to dry out thoroughly.
Step 1. After cutting the plant with the attached stem, bundle several flowers together and tie the stems with string or a rubber band.
Step 2. Find a warm but dry place to hang the plants upside down. To keep the flowers vibrant, avoid direct sunlight. Damp, humid areas should also be avoided, as this will lead to mold development within the plant. An airing cupboard, kitchen, or over a radiator would be good.
Step 3. The flowers will take around two weeks to dry completely. Once the lavender has dried, remove it and store it in a cool, dark, dry place until ready to use.
Drying Lavender Laying Flat
If you do not want to hang the lavender plants to dry, you can use the window screen method. This is pretty straightforward.
Step 1. Take a piece of window screen and lay it on something elevated so air can circulate through the plants. A cake cooler or heat rack would be good.
Step 2. I usually cover them with some kitchen paper to keep them dust-free.
Step 3. As we are drying them naturally, it will take a few weeks to fully dry.
How To Dry Lavender In An Oven
This is a faster method for drying lavender and probably the best choice for anyone living in a humid climate where the natural drying method would be challenging. This process usually takes around 4 hours.
Step 1. Cover a baking tray with baking parchment or foil. Lay the lavender flowers (stems still attached) onto the backing parchment.
Step 2. Set the oven to 110f (43c) and place the baking tray in it. As we are using the oven on a very low setting, preheating it is unnecessary.
Step 3. The lavender will take about 4 hours to completely dry out and must be turned over every hour to ensure even drying.
Step 4. After 4 hours, turn the oven off and allow the lavender to cool in the oven.
Step 5. Once the lavender has completely cooled, remove it from the oven and store it in a cool, dark, dry place until ready to use.
Drying Lavender Flowers With A Dehydrator
This is the quickest way to dry the lavender plants; it only takes a few hours. However, your dehydrator may smell of lavender for quite a while afterward.
Step 1. Place the lavender in a single layer on the dehydrator tray and turn the heat on to 100 f (38)c.
Step 2. Allow the dehydrator to do its job for a couple of hours, and then check the flowers to see how they are doing.
Step 3. If the flowers are completely dry, remove them from the dehydrator. If they still contain moisture, pop them back in for another 10 minutes, then check again. If needed, continue dehydrating and check every 10 minutes until you are satisfied that the plants have thoroughly dried.
Final Thoughts
You decide whether to remove the buds from the stems. I usually remove the buds from around half of mine, mainly because they are much easier to store.
There are a couple of ways to store the dried flowers.
- Boxes with uncooked rice or a gel pad are good; you could place tissue paper over them for extra protection.
- Plastic bags and jars can be good ways to retain their wonderful scent. Just ensure they are completely stripped of moisture, or they will develop mold.
They must also be stored somewhere cool and dark; a pantry or drawer would be perfect.
I hope you enjoyed learning how to dry lavender flowers; feel free to use the comment to let me know how you get on with this or if you have any problems.
This article originally appeared on Savvy Homemade
