WHAT IS IT?
The ultimate guide to flower preservation techniques
The preservation of flowers and plants is an innovative French process with over 50 years of history. Because each plant species reacts differently, specialized methods have been developed to achieve optimal results. In fact, there are one or more suitable preservation techniques per plant family. Discover how each process works in this guide.
Preserved vs. Stabilized Plants: What’s the Difference?
The main difference lies in the starting material: stabilization is performed on freshly cut flowers and plants, whereas preservation techniques are applied to dried foliage. While the industry often uses "preserved plants" as an umbrella term, understanding this distinction helps professionals better educate customers and justify product quality.
2 Main Preservation Techniques for Dried Plants
1. Preservation by Immersion (For Dried Foliage)
This process rehydrates dried plants by soaking them in a heated bath of glycerin, water, and food coloring. Heating the solution to at least 104 °F (40 °C) allows the glycerin to deeply penetrate plant cells and lock in moisture. Once soaked, the foliage is rinsed and dried. While this technique is cost-effective and simple, it offers a shorter lifespan compared to stabilization.
Learn more about preservation by immersion.
2. Spraying Preservation (For Delicate Mosses)
Designed specifically for forest and flat mosses that cannot withstand full immersion, this method involves spraying a 104 °F glycerin-and-colorant mixture onto the surface of dried moss. Rehydrating only the upper layer shortens processing time while keeping the moss soft and flexible—making it ideal for vertical green walls.
Learn more about spraying preservation.
2 Advanced Stabilization Techniques for Fresh Plants
1. Capillarity Stabilization (Absorption Through the Stem)
In a climate-controlled room (75 °F / 24 °C with regulated humidity), freshly cut plants soak up a solution of glycerin, water, and food dyes through their stems. Over several days, the substitution liquid flows through the stems and leaves until the plant is fully saturated. This advanced technique works exceptionally well for eucalyptus, cypress, hydrangeas, amaranth, and forest foliage.
Learn more about capillarity stabilization.
2. Double Immersion Stabilization (For Flower Heads)
Ideal for delicate blooms, this two-step method first submerges flower heads in pure alcohol for 24 hours to dehydrate them while preserving their structure (removing all natural color). In the second step, the flowers are soaked in a bath of alcohol, propylene glycol, glycerin, and natural food dyes to rehydrate and recolor them. This head-only process allows for vibrant custom colors without altering stem appearance.
Learn more about double immersion stabilization.
Freeze-Drying (Lyophilization) for Floral Design
Freeze-drying is a natural, chemical-free process that yields results remarkably close to fresh flowers. Fresh plants are placed in a vacuum chamber and frozen between -4 °F and -112 °F (-20 °C to -80 °C). A vacuum pump then extracts frozen moisture via sublimation (converting ice directly to vapor). Although suitable for over 90 plant varieties and chemical-free, the process takes about 14 days and is not recommended for thin, delicate petals.
Learn more about plant freeze-drying.
Hybrid Methods & The Future of Plant Preservation
Producers continuously innovate by blending techniques to handle complex varieties. Delicate species like orchids, for example, require precise multi-step processes to maintain petal structure and color depth. Ongoing research into temperature control, absorption rates, and natural dyes ensures higher quality and longer-lasting greenery.
At SecondFlor, we rigorously test all preserved and stabilized products to ensure professional-grade durability, consistency, and beauty for your business.
