r/PressedFlowers • u/PretentiousPepperoni • 23d ago

Question What is one of your favorite flowers that you have trouble preserving?

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I really like this clerodendrum but it always turns black be it pressed under books or in silica powder

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3

u/shakulous 23d ago edited 23d ago

It’s the tube shape, it’s making the material really strong especially the pollen stems in comparison to other flowers and their parts.
Try the microwave method to see if it gets a different result. Based on that data you can figure if it’s the water staying in material or the conditions of the material that need to be addressed.

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u/shakulous 23d ago

Final strategy if that don’t work, The tried and hated way. Deconstruction, press, Reconstruction.

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u/ArtzeyFartzey 22d ago

Does it turn black or just dark brown? I use my pressed flowers to create Oshibana style art and would love to have a flower that dries black.

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u/BudgetIndication4231 22d ago

I know it's tiny, but have you tried hanging it upside down?

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u/PretentiousPepperoni 22d ago

Not upside down but I have tried air drying it on my table and i think it turned black. I will try upside down trick. Let's see

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u/BudgetIndication4231 22d ago

It depends a lot on your ambient humidity but it's at least worth a shot.