How to Press Flowers, Foliage & Botanicals

Using our Microwave Botanical Flower Press

Pressing Flowers, Foliage & Botanicals with our Microwave Press

Flower pressing can be a fun, simple project for the whole family. For best results pick your flower and leaf specimens while at their freshest, with no moisture on them. Follow these simple steps:

• Take a supply of zip-lock bags out to the woods, a field or garden… wherever there are plants to be collected for pressing.
• Collect flowers and leaves carefully, choosing the freshest, most colorful of each at its peak. Remove excess plant material, leaving only what you want to press.
• As bags are filled, blow into the bags and seal them to minimize damage.
• Press flowers as soon as possible after collecting. Once a plant wilts it will not make an attractive pressed flower specimen.
• Bagged plants can be kept fresher for a longer period if you place them in a cooler or refrigerator until ready to press.
• When your supplies are ready, remove the plants from the bags and fill your flower press in the following manner:
  • Padding
  • Blotter Paper
  • Paper
  • Plant Material
  • Paper
  • Blotter Paper
  • Padding
• Repeat the above process to press all your plant material.
• Arrange flowers and materials on the paper just as you want them to appear when mounted. Collect flowers to press open and in bud and don’t forget to press plenty of foliage.
• Place in plants and flowers in press… check and tighten the flower press daily if air drying.
• Microwave flowers in short bursts; about 30 seconds at a time, then take out and let cool. Repeat as necessary, being careful not to burn the plants.
• Some flowers are best done in one layer, while others can be pressed in several layers with this press because of it's unique design.

Warning: microwave pressing in multiple layers is not recommended with other microwave presses. Please don't use these instructions with other presses, they may overheat.

Different flowers press better with different methods, so experiment. For discussions with other flower pressers, there is a Dried and Pressed Flowers Forum at Garden Web and a Pressed Flower Forum at Preserved Gardens. Go take a look!