The Calla Lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia aethiopica, is a globally popular flower prized for its elegant, trumpet-like shape and sleek lines. Its sophisticated form makes it a frequent choice for wedding bouquets and high-end arrangements, leading many to seek ways to preserve its beauty long after the vase life ends. While drying this flower presents greater challenges compared to simpler blooms, preservation is possible through specialized techniques. The key to successfully keeping the Calla Lily’s distinctive structure and color is to employ methods that rapidly draw out the high moisture content of the flower.
Understanding Why Calla Lilies Are Difficult to Dry
The difficulty in preserving Calla Lilies stems from their unique botanical composition, which includes a high percentage of water. The colorful part of the flower is not a petal but a fleshy, leaf-like structure called the spathe, which wraps around the central spike, or spadix. This thick, succulent tissue is designed to hold moisture, a trait common in plants that naturally thrive in moist conditions.
Traditional drying methods rely on slow, natural evaporation, but this prolonged process is detrimental. When moisture evaporates slowly, the plant tissue degrades and collapses before it can fully dry. This results in significant browning, shriveling, and a high risk of mold or mildew forming on the spathe and spadix. For a successful outcome, the moisture must be removed rapidly and evenly to stabilize the plant’s cellular structure.
Preserving Calla Lilies Using Silica Gel
Silica gel is the most effective medium for preserving the Calla Lily’s three-dimensional shape and vibrant color due to its superior moisture-absorbing capacity. This fine, granular desiccant works by quickly pulling water from the flower’s tissues in a controlled, airtight environment. The rapid dehydration minimizes color fading and prevents the collapse and distortion common with air drying.
To begin, select an airtight container large enough for the flower head and trim the stem to about an inch long. Pour a base layer of silica gel, approximately one inch deep, into the container before positioning the Calla Lily spathe gently upon it. This base layer fully supports the flower’s form during dehydration.
Carefully pour the remaining silica gel around and over the flower head, ensuring the small crystals filter into the curves of the spathe and fully cover the central spadix. This precise application provides the structural support necessary to prevent the spathe from collapsing inward as it dries. The container must then be sealed tightly to concentrate the drying action and keep out environmental humidity.
Drying time typically ranges from three to seven days, depending on the flower’s size and ambient humidity. The flower is ready when the spathe feels completely stiff and papery to the touch, with no remaining softness or flexibility. To remove the dried flower, slowly tilt the container to pour out the gel, then gently lift the delicate bloom and use a small, soft brush to remove any residual crystals.
Alternative Methods: Air Drying and Pressing
While silica gel yields the best results, simpler preservation techniques like air drying and pressing can still be used, provided expectations are adjusted for the final appearance.
Air Drying
Air drying is the easiest method and involves hanging the Calla Lily upside down in a warm, dark, and well-ventilated space. Proper ventilation is required to wick moisture away effectively. The slow nature of air drying will cause the spathe to shrink considerably and turn brittle, often resulting in a papery, parchment-like texture. Color preservation is also poor, as pigments oxidize over the extended drying period, transforming vibrant hues into duller tones. This method works best if you are content with a significantly altered, rustic aesthetic or if you only have small blooms to preserve.
Pressing
Flower pressing offers a two-dimensional result, suitable for the Calla Lily’s spathe, but not the thick spadix or the full flower form. To press, the spathe must be carefully separated from the spadix and placed flat between two sheets of absorbent material, such as blotting paper. This arrangement is then pressed between heavy books or within a dedicated flower press for several weeks. The pressure squeezes the moisture out of the tissue, resulting in a completely flat, paper-thin piece of preserved material. This technique is ideal for creating framed art, bookmarks, or other craft projects where a flat profile is desired.
Displaying and Maintaining Dried Calla Lilies
Once the Calla Lilies are fully dried, they become extremely fragile and require careful handling. The dried spathe and spadix are brittle and can easily crack or shatter if dropped or handled too roughly. They should be placed in their final display location with minimal movement.
The display environment plays a large role in long-term preservation. Direct sunlight should be avoided entirely, as the intense UV rays rapidly break down color pigments, causing the preserved hues to fade. Furthermore, the flowers must be protected from high humidity, which can cause the dried tissue to reabsorb moisture from the air.
To provide an extra layer of protection and structural rigidity, a light application of a clear acrylic sealant spray can be beneficial. A matte or satin finish spray can help stabilize the fragile surface and maintain the flower’s color for a longer period. For cleaning, dusting should be done infrequently and only with a soft artist’s brush or a can of compressed air held at a distance, as physical contact can easily damage the delicate, dehydrated structure.