The Jamjar guide to pressing

While the Victorians might have slipped a freshly picked flower between the pages of a book to preserve its beauty, we recommend using a flower press to get the best results.

We have found blotting paper to be most effective when pressing, as it does a very good job of drawing out moisture from the flowers, which is important to prevent them rotting. Most modern flower-press sets will come complete with blotting paper and sheets of card to separate the layers. We source our blotting paper from John Purcell, a family-run business in south London that stocks every kind of paper you can imagine.

The process of pressing flowers is a slow one. It takes between one and four weeks, depending on the type; for example, a wild flower with a tiny flower head and dainty stem will press in a few days, whereas a tulip may take several weeks to dry completely.

SELECTING YOUR FLOWERS

Make sure you choose specimens that have a beautiful shape. Look out for pretty wild flowers with windswept stems, or cut blooms from the garden that have twisted and turned to trap the sun’s rays. Flowers with a flat petal structure and a slender stem will press best. Avoid flowers with large juicy heads, such as roses and peonies, because their petal structure is complex and will often result in mould forming in the press.

Pick flowers when they are dry rather than after watering or a rain shower. The less moisture on the

flowers when they go into the press, the quicker they will dry and the less chance there will be of mould.

Choose flowers at their peak, when they are standing tall with their petals unfurled. If cutting annuals, this process will have the same effect as deadheading – encouraging more flowers to grow. If you pick flowers that are already beginning to fade, they will only deteriorate further in the press, resulting in petals wrinkling at the edges or flower heads falling apart.

Aim to press your flowers on the same day as cutting or at the latest the day after as this will give the blooms the best chance of retaining their colour and form.

1.

Lay out your flowers, blotting the ends of the stems with an absorbent cloth to remove any excess moisture.

2.

Position a sheet of card in the press, followed by a sheet of blotting paper. Place your first flower down in the middle of the blotting paper, trimming the stem if it is overlapping the edge of the paper. Leave plenty of room around the flower to allow the paper to absorb its moisture.

TIP: Use your fingers to spread out the petals and leaves so they lie as flat as possible.

3.

Lay another sheet of blotting paper over the flower and press down gently. Place another layer of card on top, then another sheet of blotting paper.

4.

Lay down your next flower, alternating the placement of the flower heads on each layer to ensure an even distribution of moisture and thickness throughout the press.

5.

Repeat the same process until your press is full or you have used all of your blotting paper and card. Gently press down on the flower heads by hand as you add each paper layer, so your flowers don’t bounce up and out as you build up the press.

6.

After the last sheet of card, close your flower press by feeding the top of your press through the upright screws and pushing down firmly as you screw it shut, tightening the wing nuts one by one. Store your press somewhere dry and warm and wait for five days before opening it. If the screws loosen during this time, press down again and tighten them up.

TIP: Store the press away from the cold. We stack ours on shelves on the warmest side of the studio.

OPENING YOUR PRESS

After five days, open the press and peel back each layer of paper, gently lifting the stems and petals. If the paper feels damp, move the flower to the opposite side or replace with a fresh piece of blotting paper.

Close the press and leave for another five days before repeating this process. When the flowers feel papery and the stems are dry and brittle, they are ready to take out of the press – usually three to four weeks.

STORING YOUR FLOWERS

Flowers will be happy in the press until you need them, but can be stored elsewhere. We use mount board fixing them in place with thin strips of masking tape over the stems. As the flowers become brittle, it is important to keep them flat.

Extracted from The Modern Flower Press: Preserving the Beauty of Nature by Melissa Richardson and Amy Fielding (£30, William Collins), published 12 May

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