How to Press Flowers at Home: Book, Iron and Microwave Methods

Pressed flowers are one of the simplest ways to hold on to a season. A handful of garden blooms, a sprig from a wedding bouquet or a few wildflowers from a walk can become a framed print, a bookmark or the front of a handmade card. You do not need a craft room or special equipment to get started. Most people already own the two essentials: something absorbent and something heavy.

This guide covers the three home methods described in the extension-service handouts we checked (the heavy-book press, ironing and the microwave), plus how to choose flowers that press well, how long each method takes and how to look after the finished pieces. Where sources disagree, we say so, because a lot of flower pressing comes down to trial and error.

Start with the right flowers

The quality of a pressed flower is mostly decided before it ever goes into the press.

Pick dry flowers. Every pressing guide we checked makes the same point: avoid picking plants that are wet. A Boston University GLOBE Mission Earth guide explains why, noting that wet plants are prone to mold. The University of Maryland Extension suggests picking in the morning after the dew has evaporated, while a Mississippi State University Extension handout suggests mid-afternoon. The common thread is simple: no surface moisture.

Pick at the right stage. The University of Maryland Extension recommends harvesting flowers when their buds are ready to open or just before their peak, and notes that the better the bloom at picking time, the better it will look once pressed. If you plan to make framed art, it also suggests collecting blooms and foliage at different stages for a more natural look.

Favor flat, thin flowers. Naturally flat flowers are the easiest. The Maryland guide names violets, daisies and single-petal roses, along with ferns and many kinds of leaves. Mississippi State's handout agrees that thin petals and foliage press best. The Maryland guide says chunky flowers such as multi-petal roses or carnations take longer and need more attention; the Mississippi State handout suggests avoiding forms such as roses or mums, which dry best if you take them apart.

Remove pollen-heavy parts. For flowers with prominent stamens, such as lilies and alstroemeria, the Maryland guide recommends removing the stamens so the pollen does not stain.

Check where you are picking. Garden flowers and store-bought bouquets are the easy choice. Wildflowers are a different matter. In U.S. National Park Service units, for example, the federal regulation at 36 CFR 2.1 generally prohibits removing or disturbing plants or their parts unless a specific rule allows it. State parks, preserves and private land have their own rules, so ask before you pick anywhere that is not your own garden.

Gather your materials

For the book method, you need very little:

• Fresh, dry flowers and leaves
• A large, heavy book you do not mind marking (a dictionary or an old phone book works well)
• Absorbent paper: printer paper, newsprint, plain untreated tissue or thin cardboard
• Extra weight, such as more books or a brick

A note on paper choice, because the sources do not fully agree. The University of Maryland Extension advises against paper towels because their texture can imprint on the petals, and against waxed paper because it holds moisture. The Royal Horticultural Society's herbarium guidance for botanical specimens recommends blotting paper and corrugated card. The GLOBE guide lists paper towels and coffee filters among acceptable options. If you want the smoothest finish, choose a smooth, absorbent paper. Mississippi State's handout also says not to use glossy paper.

Method 1: Press flowers in a book

This is the slowest of the three methods.

1. Prepare the flowers. Remove leaves you do not want, along with any thorns.
2. Open the book near the back. The GLOBE guide suggests opening to the back pages, so that most of the book's pages are on one side and only a few on the other.
3. Layer the paper. Lay a sheet of absorbent paper on the page, lay the flowers flat on it, and cover them with a second sheet. The GLOBE guide says to keep each whole flower on the paper and clear of the book's edges and center crease, and to place the face down for flowers whose petals radiate from a center circle.
4. Leave space between layers. The Maryland guide recommends at least 1/8 inch between multiple pressings in the same book; Mississippi State's handout suggests skipping six to eight pages between pages of flowers.
5. Close and weigh down. Shut the book carefully so nothing shifts, then stack more books or a brick on top. Mississippi State suggests leaving it somewhere dark and dry.
6. Check after about a week. The Maryland guide suggests a first check after a week, replacing the absorbent paper at that point if you wish, and allowing two to three weeks for complete drying. Mississippi State also gives two to three weeks.

Flowers are ready when they feel dry and papery. Pigments can stain pages, so if the book matters to you, protect it with extra sheets of paper on both sides of the flowers, as the Maryland guide recommends.

Method 2: Press flowers with an iron

Ironing is quicker than the book method. The University of Maryland Extension describes the process like this:

1. Make sure the flowers are as dry as possible; pat off any dew.
2. Place them between two sheets of parchment paper, then sandwich that between two paper towels or pieces of cloth.
3. Turn off the steam and set the iron to medium-high.
4. Press down for about 10 seconds, lift, and repeat in 10- to 15-second intervals for about three minutes. Lift and press rather than sliding the iron back and forth.
5. Continue until the flowers are completely dry, then let them cool.

The Mississippi State handout describes a variation: laying plant material between two old cloth handkerchiefs and pressing on medium heat while keeping the iron moving, and notes that it works very well with foliage.

Method 3: Press flowers in the microwave

Microwave flower presses are sold online and in craft stores. The University of Maryland Extension says they can finish the job in minutes, and that colors can come out brighter than with traditional pressing. Its guidance:

• Dry a single kind of flower or leaf per batch, because different thicknesses and moisture levels dry at different speeds.
• Begin with short bursts of 30 to 60 seconds on half power.
• After each burst, open the press so steam can escape, let the material cool and check how it is going.
• Repeat until the flowers are dry, taking care not to burn the plants or yourself.

The same guide describes a homemade version using two ceramic tiles (unglazed, or glazed with non-metallic paint), with the flowers between sheets of copy paper and absorbent paper between the copy paper and the tiles. Follow the instructions that come with any commercial press; the Mississippi State handout, quoting another source, prefers presses made with no metal parts. The Mississippi State handout includes notes suggesting you finish microwaved flowers in a book or press for a few hours to a day.

Which method should you choose?

• Book pressing takes two to three weeks but needs no special equipment and is the easiest place to start.
• Ironing takes minutes (about three minutes in the Maryland steps) and works very well with foliage, according to the Mississippi State handout.
• A microwave press takes minutes, can give more vibrant color, and works best one flower type at a time.

If you are pressing something sentimental, such as flowers from a wedding or a memorial, try a few spare blooms first so you know how each type behaves.

Caring for pressed flowers

Pressed flowers are delicate, so handle them gently. The RHS herbarium guidance, written for botanical specimens, mounts them on acid-free paper with neutral-pH adhesive and says good-quality paper, preferably acid-free, is enough for a domestic herbarium. Glue, backing and frame choices are a matter of taste for crafts. The GLOBE guide notes that wet plants are prone to mold, so keeping finished pieces dry is a sensible habit.

Ideas for your pressed flowers

• A simple framed arrangement for a bedroom or hallway
• Bookmarks, laminated or covered with clear contact paper
• Handmade greeting cards or gift tags
• A seasonal journal page with the date and place each flower was picked
• A small keepsake from a special bouquet, kept with a note about the day

Pressed flowers also pair well with other small mementos. If you collect shells on beach trips, our guide on how to clean seashells covers how to get them ready for display, and if your keepsakes are starting to take over, our post on decluttering sentimental items without the guilt offers a kinder way to decide what stays.

Quick recap

• Pick flowers that are dry and ready to open or just before their peak.
• Flat, thin flowers and leaves press best; take bulky flowers apart.
• Use smooth absorbent paper; avoid waxed and glossy paper.
• Book pressing takes two to three weeks; check after the first week and replace the absorbent paper if you wish.
• Ironing and microwave presses work in minutes; go slowly and check often.
• Keep finished pieces dry and handle them gently.

Sources

1. University of Maryland Extension, Frederick County Office, "How to Press Flowers" (selecting flowers, materials, book method, ironing, microwave presses, tile press): https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-03/FC-MGPub%20Flower%20Pressing%20Bookmark%20Fair%202018.pdf
2. Mississippi State University Extension, Center for Technology Outreach, "Pressed Floral Designs" materials list, November 7, 2013 (flower preparation, book press, microwave and iron press notes): https://techoutreach.extension.msstate.edu/sites/techoutreach.extension.msstate.edu/files/quick-bites/november-7-2013_l_mcdougald_materials.pdf
3. Boston University GLOBE Mission Earth, "How to press flowers" (2020) (avoid wet flowers because of mold, book method steps, absorbent paper options): https://www.globe.gov/documents/18720200/b78d64d6-52cc-af49-822d-5e44ffa09e37
4. Royal Horticultural Society, "Pressing and collecting samples" (RHS Herbarium: blotting paper and corrugated card, acid-free paper, neutral-pH adhesive for mounting): https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/conserving-garden-plants/rhs-herbarium/pressing-and-collecting-samples
5. U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR 2.1, Preservation of natural, cultural and archeological resources (removing or disturbing plants in National Park Service areas): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/2.1