Lavender is one of the plants whose intoxicating scent should be retained over a long period of time. So that you too can save the wonderful scent with the light spice over the next winter, it is important that the lavender or at least the flowers are dried properly. There are a variety of methods available for this.
Lavender is often preserved for a long time, especially because of its essential oils, which have a wonderful scent. Because this plant can bring a lot of joy not only in the summer months. So that you can continue to use your lavender in your own four walls, there are generally various options available to you. You can put the blooming lavender in a vase and distribute it fresh throughout your apartment or house. As a rule, it also keeps well in the vase. However, you should make sure that you change the water regularly. It quickly turns brown due to the oils it contains and therefore sometimes looks a bit unsightly.
However, lavender is much more interesting and usable in dried form. Because it can be used for more than just decoration. Rather, dried lavender can also be used as:
- Scented cushions can be used in rooms and cupboards
- as lavender oil
- as a bath additive
- as tea
- as dry lavender bouquets
Harvest time and special features
So that the dry lavender can really develop its full potential, it is extremely important that you find the right harvest time. This plant has its best power when the lavender flower is already quite advanced. But that doesn't mean that the flower is already completely open. Rather, only a few flowers should be fully open, otherwise the important essential oils will be lost. These in turn are important for the effect.
Tip:
Lavender blooms for a very long time. Just pick a few flowers every now and then and rub them between your fingers. This way you can easily determine how much fragrance is still in the flowers and whether the ideal harvest time has been reached.
You can also consider whether you want to harvest just the lavender flowers or the lavender complete with stems. For small scented pillows only the flowers are needed. However, if you want to make bouquets, you will of course also need the stems. Here you should cut the lavender about 10 cm below the flowers.
Tip:
If you dry the lavender with the stems, this will be easier than if you just dry the flowers. The stems make it possible to hang the lavender up to dry.
Lots of air and little sun
When drying lavender, it is important that no mold can form. For this reason, it is very important that it is stored in a place that is as airy as possible to dry. A slight circulation of air would be very good. This way you avoid mold and the lavender can dry in peace.
You should also make sure that the place where the lavender is to be dried is not too warm. Direct sunlight is also not recommended. Otherwise the essential oils will evaporate from the flowers and the beautiful smell will be lost. Therefore, do not place the lavender near the heater to dry. There is also no suitable space on the oven. It is better to find a shady place that is well ventilated.
In a bundle or individually?
The question still remains as to whether the lavender is best dried in bundles or rather individually. There is a very clear tip for this. Tip: If you have little space, then it's best to opt for the bundles. You can hang these in many places (airy and no direct heat) without taking up a lot of space. However, if you have enough space available, then it is worth just drying the flowers. Distribute these on large surfaces such as a tray or plates and let them dry in peace.
In both variants, it is important that there is a small re-layering every now and then so that all stems and all flowers can dry evenly and there is really no chance of mold forming. If you want to dry larger quantities, please make sure that the bundles do not become too thick. Tie several small bundles rather than one large bundle. This will make drying much easier for you.
Another tip: When bundling the lavender, you should ideally use a flexible and not too narrow rubber band. Removing moisture causes the stems to shrink. If you were to use a traditional ribbon for tying, the stems could slip out of the bundle while drying.
The Dry Season
The drying time always depends on how and where you can dry the lavender. However, you can usually expect this to take around one to two weeks. During this time you should handle the lavender very carefully and under no circumstances squeeze or squeeze the flowers. Otherwise the essential oils would be lost. If you want to check whether the lavender is really dry, simply pick a few flowers from the stems. If this is easy, then you can end the dry period.
Use
If you want to make your dried lavender into tea, this is only possible if you use “real” lavender, i.e. Lavendula angustiolia. If you are unsure whether your lavender is real lavender, then if in doubt, ask a gardener or your pharmacy. They offer real lavender in tea form so that a comparison can be made. However, if you would like to pack your lavender in small bags, please make sure that they are really dry. Otherwise, you will have mold in the bags within a few weeks and the essential oils will no longer be able to develop their effect. By the way: Lavender sachets can not only provide a fresh scent in the wardrobe. They are also ideal as a sleep aid, as the essential oils calm you down and are excellent for those with sleep disorders.
Frequently asked questions
Where can lavender be dried?
Always in a place that is dry, has good air circulation and is free from direct sunlight or a direct heat source.
How long does the dry season last?
The dry season is on average one to two weeks.
What you should know about dried lavender in brief
If you want to dry the lavender flowers, it is best to only use fully bloomed heads, just before they fade. This is when the aroma is most intense. Cut off the stems and tie them together just below the flower heads. Then hang the bundle or bundles upside down in a dry room that is well ventilated. After about a week the flowers will be dry and can be cut from the stems.
- The optimal time for harvesting is in the morning, as soon as the morning dew has evaporated and before the heat of the day sets in.
- Some hobby gardeners also swear by harvesting the flowers before they have fully bloomed. This way the flowers are preserved as such.
- If you only pick when the flowers are open, the ears may only be suitable for lavender bags.
- To get the blue color, you can spray the lavender bouquet with hairspray or, even better, with hairspray.
- However, this particularly attracts house dust and the flowers quickly become dusty.
- You can also try with silica gel. You can put freshly cut flowers in it to dry for a few days. The original color is retained.
- If you want to use the flowers for lavender bags, for example, you can wipe off the individual flowers after they are dry.
