When pressing flowers...?

Question

how do i know when they are done?

Answer 1

Excellent question!  There are so many things to consider: the temperature, the humidity, the absorbency of the enfolding medium, the "juiciness" of the flower sample, to name just a few.  Let's not forget the amount of pressure used.  

Fortunately, flowers are not souffles or dumplings, so it's OK to peek.  I'd start at a week, and if the plant is not ready, back it goes.  Then again, I live in southern Arizona, where the humidity is in single digits and the temperature often in triple digits.  I've even tried a poor-man's press- a paper bag of newspapers with flowers between the sections, put in the back of a van with a spare tire on top.  It worked fine for kid's  projects, when you need a few hundred samples.

Leaves usually take less time than, say, coneflowers or poppies.  The flowers with the most sap might take multiple layers of absorbent media.  Good luck!

Answer 2

They should feel papery.  The thickness of the leaves and petals will vary, so drying/pressing time will vary.  It's okay to check on them - if they're not done, put them back in the press!

Answer 3

When there is no moisture left in them.