Silica Gel By Floral Stories 1 kg

Preserve your flowers forever!
Silica sand is a fine, absorbent material that is perfect for drying flowers. It draws moisture out of the flowers with minimal impact on their color or shape. This way, the flowers retain their natural and beautiful appearance for years to come.
 
Why silica sand?
Because we offer the highest quality silica sand, flowers can be dried within just a few days. Thanks to our many years of experience in flower preservation, we know exactly which type of sand works best for drying flowers. We therefore provide an extra fine grain that ensures even drying without damaging the petals. The sand fits closely around the flowers, which speeds up moisture absorption. Coarser grains often leave imprints on the petals.
 
Our silica sand also has a high-quality absorption capacity of 30–40% of its own weight in moisture. For ultimate quality, we’ve added light orange indicators to the silica sand that change color when the sand becomes saturated. This helps you determine when the sand is full of moisture and needs to be re-dried in the oven. Lower-quality silica sand absorbs less moisture and needs to be replaced or dried more frequently.
 
Silica sand is one of the most effective materials for drying flowers, thanks to the following benefits:
Fast Moisture Absorption
Silica sand draws out moisture much faster than air-drying or pressing, helping flowers retain their shape, texture, and color.
Color and Structure Retention
Unlike other drying methods, silica sand prevents flowers from fading or shriveling. It’s perfect for delicate flowers like roses, dahlias, and gerberas.
Reusable and Sustainable
It’s an eco-friendly alternative to chemical drying methods and can be reused multiple times after being dried in an oven. Because moisture is absorbed immediately, there is no risk of mold forming in the flower.
Easy to Use
Silica sand is simple to apply without complicated equipment, making it ideal for both hobbyists and professionals in floral decoration.
 
Instructions for Use:
Prepare the flowers. Trim the stems to the desired length and remove any excess leaves.
Use a sealable airtight container. Spread a 2–3 cm layer of silica sand on the bottom and gently place the flowers on top.
Pour more silica sand over the flowers, making sure the sand gets between the petals.
Ensure the flowers are completely covered with silica sand, then seal the airtight container.
Wait a few days. The exact drying time varies per flower. Small flowers may dry in 5 days, while a rose may take up to 14 days.
Gently check if the flowers are dry; they should feel papery to the touch.
Use a soft brush to remove any excess sand.
Optionally, use hairspray or a fixative spray to add extra protection and prevent moisture from being reabsorbed.
 
Reusability
Silica sand can be reused multiple times. Once the silica gel has absorbed a lot of moisture, it needs to be dried. This is easy to do by placing it in the oven. Spread the silica gel on baking paper or aluminum foil on a baking tray and heat it at 100–120°C (212–248°F) for 1–2 hours. Allow the sand to cool completely before storing it in a dry, airtight container.
 
Note:
Silica gel is not suitable for flowers with extremely high moisture content. This includes succulents, cactus flowers, thicker stems, certain types of orchids, and other tropical flowers. Due to their high water content, these flowers cannot be fully dried and may lose their original color and/or shape.