How to Preserve a Rose: Two Simple Ways to Save Your Special Valentine’s Day Blooms

Roses are timeless symbols of love, and preserving one can be a beautiful way to hold onto special memories. Whether you want to keep a single rose or just the petals, these easy methods using a book or a flower press will ensure your rose is preserved and ready to display in a stunning frame.

Option 1: Pressing a Rose in a Book

This classic method is perfect for those who don’t have a flower press.

What You’ll Need:

• A large, heavy, hard-cover book 
• Parchment paper or coffee filters (don't use paper towel, it will leave marks on your petals)
• A rose (remove the stem and keep only the bloom or petals)

Steps:

1. Prepare the Rose: Gently remove the stem and leaves. For a full bloom, carefully cut the base of the rose so it sits flat.
2. For best results separate the petals for individual pressing.
3. Protect the Book: Place the rose or petals between two sheets of parchment paper or coffee filters to protect the book pages from moisture or stains and help absorb moisture from the flower.
4. Press the Rose: I recommend carefully opening the rose petals up to reveal the centre, you can remove some of the centre petals, the less layers of petals you press the quicker and dryer it will be. Open the book to the middle and place the protected rose or petals inside. Close the book and stack several heavy objects (like more books) on top for added pressure.
5. Swap wet paper: For the first few days, it's a good idea to check the flower for excess moisture to avoid mould. Swap out parchment or change paper if it is wet. If pressing petals separately you shouldn't have any mould issues.
6. Wait: Leave the rose in the book for 3-4 weeks. During this time, avoid opening the book to prevent disrupting the pressing process.
7. Check and Remove: Once the rose or petals feel completely dry and papery, carefully remove them from the book.

Option 2: Using a Flower Press

A flower press offers a faster, more reliable method for preserving roses.

What You’ll Need:

• A flower press (store-bought or homemade)
• Blotting paper, cardstock, parchment & cardboard
• A rose (same preparation steps as above)

Steps:

1. Set Up the Press: Layer the bottom of the press with a piece of blotting paper and cardboard.
2. Arrange the Rose: Lay your rose or petals flat on the blotting paper. Avoid overlapping petals to ensure even pressing.
3. Layer and Close: Cover the rose with another sheet of blotting paper, then close and tighten the flower press.
4. Wait: Depending on the thickness of your rose, it may take 2-3+ weeks to dry fully. Check occasionally to ensure no mould or moisture is present.
5. Remove and Admire: Once completely pressed and dry, carefully remove the rose or petals from the press.

Framing Your Preserved Rose

Turn your preserved rose or petals into a keepsake by framing them!

Pro Tip: If you pressed the petals and the pistil separately you can creatively re-construct your rose using glue adding the centre pistil last for a finished look. 

What You’ll Need:

• Acid-free card stock
• Tweezers (for handling delicate petals)
• Glue dots or a mod-podge glue (quick clear dry glue)

Frame Your Rose:

1. Prepare the Frame: Clean the glass of your frame and cut a piece of acid-free paper to fit as the backing.
2. Arrange Your Rose: Lay out your preserved rose or petals on the backing paper. Use tweezers for precise placement.
3. Secure the Design: If you’re concerned about movement, use tiny glue dots or a small amount of clear adhesive to keep the petals in place on the paper.
4. Assemble the Frame: Carefully place the backing and the preserved rose into the frame, securing it tightly.
5. Display: Hang your framed rose in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.

Preserving a rose is a heartfelt way to capture the beauty of Valentine’s Day memories. Whether you use a book or a flower press, the process is simple and rewarding. And once framed, your preserved rose becomes a timeless piece of art that tells your love story.

Please keep in mind I've been pressing roses for 6 years through a lot of trial and error and sometimes they still don't turn out as planned. The Roses shown are spray roses and much easier to preserve than larger flowers. While it's fun to experiment with flower pressing if you want to guarantee a piece of artwork from sentimental flower please reach out, I would be happy to help!

Do you have a special flower you’d like to preserve? Let me know in the comments, or tag me on Instagram @seekandbloomco with your creations!