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How To Press Orchids? 3 Effective Methods!

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Everyone loves orchids. There is just something serene about the delicate pattern and fragrance of orchids. They are soothing to the eyes and other raspatory senses, exporting us to a feeling of utmost euphoria. Too bad they only bloom for a short period, giving us only a little time to enjoy the joy they bring to our lives.

Wouldn’t it be great if we knew how to press orchids to enjoy the beauty of orchids all year round? You may ask what is orchid pressing and how to press orchids? Continue reading to learn more about the process.

How To Press Orchids 1
I press and dry my orchids flowers, so here are some. – via Reddit

What is Orchid Pressing?

Orchids are delicate and last only a few days; hence preservation is required to prolong their shelf life. Orchid pressing is a preservation technique that allows one to extend the shelf life of an orchid.

Several methods are used to press orchids, each having its benefits and drawbacks. The article below is a step-by-step guide telling you how to press orchids in six easy steps.

Which Orchids Can Be Pressed?

Orchids vary to a great degree in shapes and sizes, while they are very different in their texture and anatomy, all of them can be pressed, so your options are endless in this case.

Best Time to Press Orchids

Although orchids can be pressed whenever you have the availability to orchids, the best time to press orchids is in spring when most orchids are in full bloom, giving you a variety to choose the orchids that you need to press and preserve. Now that you know this and how to press orchids, you can have orchid pressing added to your calendar for the next spring season.

The Uses of Pressed Orchids

You might be wondering; well-pressed orchids have a great deal of role in ornamenting your environment. You can use them as bookmarks in books or decorate the walls of your dull apartment to light it up.

You can also frame the pressed orchids to make a thoughtful DIY gift for yourself or your loved ones. The options are just endless!

How To Press Orchids Using 3 Effective Methods

Things Needed

  • Your favorite orchid
  • Newspaper Sheet
  • A heavy object such as a book
  • A pair of scissors
  • Iron
  • Blocks of wood

Method 1: Using Books to Press Orchids

It is the easiest and the most continent way to press orchids. Not only is it beginner-friendly but efficient as well. For this method, you would need only three things’ orchids, a few books, and a piece of newspaper or any other paper.

Step 1:

Gather the orchids that need to be pressed. Since all orchids can be pressed, this can include any orchid.

Step 2:

Place your favorite orchid between a newspaper sheet or any other paper of your choice. Be cautious at this stage; you do not want to damage the delicate orchids.

Step 3:

Choose a heavy book from your bookshelf and place the orchid with a newspaper sheet in between it.

Step 4:

Close the book and place other heavy books on it to add in the extra weight.

Step 5:

Leave the orchids under the weight for about 2 weeks to be pressed fully.

Step 6:

Enjoy your newly pressed orchids!

How To Press Orchids 2
The best way to ensure orchid blooms year-round… they press really nicely! – via Reddit

Method 2: Using Iron to Press

It is an advanced method to press orchids and requires caution when pressing the orchids. Due to iron, this method is a lot more time-efficient than the others. For this method, you would need orchids, a piece of paper, and an iron.

Step 1:             

Repeat steps 1 and 2 of the abovementioned method, and then set your iron to the lowest setting. Remember to drain all the water in the iron as well. You do not want mushy orchids instead of pressed ones.

Step 2:

Gently iron the newspaper sheet in which orchids are placed—iron for about 10 seconds in each area.

Step 3:

Remove the orchids from the newspaper and enjoy your freshly pressed orchids!

Method 3: Using Wood To Press the Orchids

If you are someone who has extra pieces of wood lying around in the house, then this method is for you. Like the book method, this method uses weight to press the orchid, but instead of books, the weight of wood is used for pressing. For this method, you would need blocks of wood, orchids, and a piece of newspaper.

Step 1:

Gather woodblocks after selecting your favorite orchids and placing them between a newspaper. You can gather blocks from your backyard or ask the nice carpenter down the road to lend you some.

Step 2:

Place the widest block of wood on top of the newspaper.

Step 3:

Stack the woodblock with other blocks that you have collected.

Step 4:

Wait for about 2 weeks to remove the blocks to find your newly pressed orchids.

Evaluation of the Three Orchid Pressing Methods:

Method 1: Use books to press

Advantages

  • Easy to understand
  • Utilizes common objects
  • Efficient and Effective

Disadvantages

  • Time-consuming, i.e., 2 weeks to get the final result

Method 2: Use an iron to press

Advantages

  • Time-efficient
  • Provides instant gratification in the form of the quick result

Disadvantages

  • Difficult to implement
  • The probability of burning the orchids is high

Method 3: Use wooden blocks to press

Advantages

  • Easy to implement
  • Efficient and effective

Disadvantages

  • Wood’s blocks are difficult to find
  • Time-consuming, i.e., it takes 2 weeks to produce the result

The Best Method of Orchid Pressing?

When learning how to press orchids, one may ask which is the best method for pressing. The answer is that there is no best method of orchid pressing, all of them are equally good. The best one for you is the one that matches your needs and the availability of items you have.

Remember, orchid pressing is not a stressful process hence do not fret too much over the things you need to execute it. Instead, look at the available items and choose the method catered to your particular needs.

Caring for your Pressed Orchid Flowers

Once you have learned how to press orchids, you need to realize that orchids, once pressed, do not need much care and attention. You should note that pressed orchids, like their fresh counterparts, are delicate and fragile and should be dealt with care.

When maneuvering pressed orchids, try not to have any sharp objects insight that may damage the orchids. Likewise, do not use force when handling them that may cause them to become brittle. Proper care prolongs the shelf life of pressed orchids to a great extent, and who doesn’t like durability?


Conclusion

Orchid pressing is not only an art but a very productive hobby that can keep you occupied and provide you with that much-needed mental peace. Moreover, the booming pressed orchid market can also allow you to capitalize on the beauty of pressed orchids.

No matter which method you choose to press your favorite orchids, it is certain that you will enjoy both the process and this step-by-step guide on how to press orchids. So, grab your favorite orchids today and preserve them for you to relish for a long time!