To air-dry flowers, collect fresh materials and cut at various lengths from 12 to 16 inches. Strip away most or all of the foliage if it is not of primary interest. Tie flowers into small bunches of about five stems and hang them upside down in a dark room to preserve their colors. The humidity in the room should be kept under 50 percent, and there should be good air circulation. Large, fleshy materials should be dried separately. Collect the flowers to be dried in early morning, before they begin to wilt. Drying time varies, but 10 to 14 days generally is sufficient. When material becomes stiff to the touch and stems snap, the material is ready. Cones, pods, twigs, and certain grasses can be dried without hanging. Store dried material in roomy boxes or dust-free containers (airtight, if possible) until ready to use.
Some plants commonly recommended for air-drying include: amaranth, baby's breath, bachelor's button, bells of Ireland, cattail celosia, Chinese lantern, cones, corn, eucalyptus, ferns, globe thistle, goldenrod, grains, grasses, hydrangea, lavender, lotus, magnolia, mullein, okra pods, Queen Anne's lace, salvia, statice, strawflower, sumac, thistle, and yarrow. Some herbs also dry well. For instance, basil, dill, fennel (seed heads), garlic, geranium, lamb's ear, lavender, and rosemary.
