Valentine’s Day is synonymous with romance, often celebrated with bouquets of flowers. But once the party is over, what to do with the petals that start to fall? Rather than throw them away, give them a second life. Here is 6 super simple ideas recycle flowers from your Valentine’s Day bouquets to extend their charm.
1. Make a flower bookmark
You can either dry the stem directly and use it as a bookmark, or dry the petals by placing them under a scale or in a book. Once dry, glue them to thick paper to make a bookmark. To protect it, you can cover it with clear plastic wrap.
2. Make homemade potpourri
Potpourri can bring a pleasant aroma to your home. Dry the petals first in the sun or in the oven at a low temperature. When they are completely dry, put them in a large bowl and add them a few drops of essential oil to enhance the fragrance. You can also add cinnamon or star anise. Place your potpourri in open bowls or small cloth bags that you can place around different areas of your home for a fragrant and warm atmosphere.
3. Make a bouquet of dried flowers
Before your flowers start to lose their freshness, prepare them for drying. Remove unnecessary leaves and tie the stems with string. Hang them upside down in a dark, dry place. After a few weeks, you will get a wonderful dried bouquet that will decorate your interior for a long time.
4. Create a flower frame
Dried flowers can be used to create a plant painting. Dry your flowers and then artistically arrange them against a background of your choice before framing them. It can be a beautiful piece of art for your home or a personal gift for someone special.
5. Grow a new plant
It is possible with flower stems get a new plant. To do this, simply cut off the head of the flower, cut off the leaves on the stem, leaving 2 at the top, cut the upper leaves diagonally and plant the stem as deeply as possible in a pot filled with soil.
6. Use them for compost
Finally, if you have a garden, the petals and stems of your flowers can be composted. It will enrich the compost with beneficial nutrients for your plants. Simply add them to your compost bin or compost pile. It’s an eco-friendly way to recycle your flowers.