Sub Topic #3
What method(s) should I use to preserve the flower?
As I research, flowers that has been cut only live for several days in vases, until it decomposed and die. But there are "flower artists" (you can get to know them in this link) that are able to turn those flowers into several amazing artworks. According to Lim Zhi Wei who's I interviewed, what she did to preserve the flowers it to get the fresh flower, and put it in between dictionaries for weeks. She also said that there are semi permanent flowers available in the market. Those permanent flowers are available in the market and could last up to 3 years.
According to www.ag.ndsu.edu, we should pick the ones that has high quality. The over-mature ones will turn out shattered when dried. Also, there are many ways/ methods we can preserve a flower.:
1. Hanging: This method is the most general and easiest way to preserve a flower. So what I need to do is to hang the flower upside down in a warm, dark, and dry place such as closet, attics, or pantry. It is because we wanted to reduce the moisture content of the flower. Rubber bands, wire, etc, are needed to hang the flowers yet we shall not ruin the stem of the flower. This air drying process can be done for one to two weeks.
2. Glycerin: This method is using a chemical solution. In using this method, the flowers should be in fully hydrated situation. So those flowers should be submerged under the solution of glycerin, so that there will be a diffusion process. The time required for this process is 3 weeks. If it is not working, then I need to apply the first method which to hang them so that the solution will go up the flower petals.
3. Pressing: This is a very easy method but the final product of doing this method would be having the flower in flat situation. This method will need a thick unglazed-paper book; such as an old telephone book. The tips are not to stack them together, and make sure that they did not overlap. The time required for this process from two to four weeks. The storing is not too hard to accomplish, as the pressed flowers is not taken away from the book until they are used.
4. Sand drying: This method is specifically made to prevent wilting. So what we need to do is to prepare a very soft sand that has been cleaned. Then pour them into a container for 1-2 inches, and make space inside to place the flower. Then, shape the sand according to the flower to support it, and tickle some sands on top of the flower, so it goes in each petals.
5. Homemade Agents: This method is using usual things we found in the kitchen. So what we need are powdered pumice and yellow corn meal. Then, add 3 tablespoon of non-iodized salt in each liter of the mixtures. Apply the mixture on the flower and it requires two weeks to do that.
6. Silica Gel: This method is used as the silica gel absorbs the flowers moisture rapidly and that makes the flower stays in the same color for a long time. The time required is 36-48 days, and by then the flower has already dried. What we need to do is to put the flower with the silica gels in a sealed container, so it blocks the humidity/ moisture from the outside air. The tips from is that if the silica gel appear blue, it codes how the flower is dry, if it is pink, then it is moist.
7. Microwave Drying: This method is used since we wanted to take the moisture content of the flower out of them. In the website, it says that roses took 1 and a half minute in the microwave. To do the drying process, we needed these equipments: silica gel, container, and fresh flowers. So first we need to insert the fresh flower along with silica gel in a container. With 1 cup of water at the left side in the microwave, put the heat on full power and wait. After you take them out of the microwave, wait until the silica gel cool down. Also, the flowers should be sprayed with matt finish to get avoid them dong rehydrating.
As I research, flowers that has been cut only live for several days in vases, until it decomposed and die. But there are "flower artists" (you can get to know them in this link) that are able to turn those flowers into several amazing artworks. According to Lim Zhi Wei who's I interviewed, what she did to preserve the flowers it to get the fresh flower, and put it in between dictionaries for weeks. She also said that there are semi permanent flowers available in the market. Those permanent flowers are available in the market and could last up to 3 years.
According to www.ag.ndsu.edu, we should pick the ones that has high quality. The over-mature ones will turn out shattered when dried. Also, there are many ways/ methods we can preserve a flower.:
1. Hanging: This method is the most general and easiest way to preserve a flower. So what I need to do is to hang the flower upside down in a warm, dark, and dry place such as closet, attics, or pantry. It is because we wanted to reduce the moisture content of the flower. Rubber bands, wire, etc, are needed to hang the flowers yet we shall not ruin the stem of the flower. This air drying process can be done for one to two weeks.
2. Glycerin: This method is using a chemical solution. In using this method, the flowers should be in fully hydrated situation. So those flowers should be submerged under the solution of glycerin, so that there will be a diffusion process. The time required for this process is 3 weeks. If it is not working, then I need to apply the first method which to hang them so that the solution will go up the flower petals.
3. Pressing: This is a very easy method but the final product of doing this method would be having the flower in flat situation. This method will need a thick unglazed-paper book; such as an old telephone book. The tips are not to stack them together, and make sure that they did not overlap. The time required for this process from two to four weeks. The storing is not too hard to accomplish, as the pressed flowers is not taken away from the book until they are used.
4. Sand drying: This method is specifically made to prevent wilting. So what we need to do is to prepare a very soft sand that has been cleaned. Then pour them into a container for 1-2 inches, and make space inside to place the flower. Then, shape the sand according to the flower to support it, and tickle some sands on top of the flower, so it goes in each petals.
5. Homemade Agents: This method is using usual things we found in the kitchen. So what we need are powdered pumice and yellow corn meal. Then, add 3 tablespoon of non-iodized salt in each liter of the mixtures. Apply the mixture on the flower and it requires two weeks to do that.
6. Silica Gel: This method is used as the silica gel absorbs the flowers moisture rapidly and that makes the flower stays in the same color for a long time. The time required is 36-48 days, and by then the flower has already dried. What we need to do is to put the flower with the silica gels in a sealed container, so it blocks the humidity/ moisture from the outside air. The tips from is that if the silica gel appear blue, it codes how the flower is dry, if it is pink, then it is moist.
7. Microwave Drying: This method is used since we wanted to take the moisture content of the flower out of them. In the website, it says that roses took 1 and a half minute in the microwave. To do the drying process, we needed these equipments: silica gel, container, and fresh flowers. So first we need to insert the fresh flower along with silica gel in a container. With 1 cup of water at the left side in the microwave, put the heat on full power and wait. After you take them out of the microwave, wait until the silica gel cool down. Also, the flowers should be sprayed with matt finish to get avoid them dong rehydrating.
Bibliography:
Patricia Thorpe, Everlastings, the Complete Book of Dried Flowers, ISBN 0-395-41160-2, Houghton Mifflin Company, Quarto Marketing Ltd, 15 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10010, 1985.
Smith, Ronald C., and Barb Laschkewitsch. "Methods of Preserving Flowers."NDSU Extension Service (2010): 1-4. Methods of Preserving Flowers. North Dakota State University, July 2010. Web. 14 Aug. 2014.
Winifrede Morrison, Drying & Preserving Flowers, ISBN 0-8521-9605-9, Dryad Press, 4 Fitzhardinge Street, London, Great Britain W1H0AH, 1985.
Patricia Thorpe, Everlastings, the Complete Book of Dried Flowers, ISBN 0-395-41160-2, Houghton Mifflin Company, Quarto Marketing Ltd, 15 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10010, 1985.
Smith, Ronald C., and Barb Laschkewitsch. "Methods of Preserving Flowers."NDSU Extension Service (2010): 1-4. Methods of Preserving Flowers. North Dakota State University, July 2010. Web. 14 Aug. 2014.
Winifrede Morrison, Drying & Preserving Flowers, ISBN 0-8521-9605-9, Dryad Press, 4 Fitzhardinge Street, London, Great Britain W1H0AH, 1985.
Evaluation of source:
a. How the information suited to the project? (Coverage)
This information suited to the project because in case on making my final product and answering my inquiry question, I need to know the methods in order on working on my project.
b. Is the information source reliable (Authority)?
I think that the information source is reliable because the author posted his name on the first page of the pdf. Also, there are also 3 book references at the bottom of the pdf.
c. Is the information accurate?
Yes, the informations are accurate because they are what I needed for answering this question of my subtopic.
d. Is the information up to date? (Currency)
Yes, the information is up to date, as this pdf is made in 2010. I believe that the currency of a website/work should be less than 5 years.
e. Is the information objective/not biased? (Objectivity)
The information is not biased, because I also find other sources that talks about the same thing, but I chose this one because it looks reliable and has more details.
f. What information do i still need?
The information I still need is to find out if this actually works or not.
g. What new question does my research bring?
The new question my research bring is how will I make the final product?
a. How the information suited to the project? (Coverage)
This information suited to the project because in case on making my final product and answering my inquiry question, I need to know the methods in order on working on my project.
b. Is the information source reliable (Authority)?
I think that the information source is reliable because the author posted his name on the first page of the pdf. Also, there are also 3 book references at the bottom of the pdf.
c. Is the information accurate?
Yes, the informations are accurate because they are what I needed for answering this question of my subtopic.
d. Is the information up to date? (Currency)
Yes, the information is up to date, as this pdf is made in 2010. I believe that the currency of a website/work should be less than 5 years.
e. Is the information objective/not biased? (Objectivity)
The information is not biased, because I also find other sources that talks about the same thing, but I chose this one because it looks reliable and has more details.
f. What information do i still need?
The information I still need is to find out if this actually works or not.
g. What new question does my research bring?
The new question my research bring is how will I make the final product?