Freeze-drying Flowers
Well, wish no more! We live in the 21st century when technology solves almost anything. Now, there"s no need to settle for dry, brittle flowers kept between the pages of a book or dried in the sun. A technology called freeze-drying can preserve your flowers exactly the way they look like for very long periods of time. Freeze-drying is said to have first originated from the Indians living in the Andes Mountain is the 1700"s. Its modern version, however, was introduced in 1813 by William Hyde Wallaston to the Royal Society in London. Back then, it was a procedure simply known as sublimation, or the conversion of liquid in a frozen state directly to a gaseous one.The freeze-drying process makes use of a freeze-drying machine for flowers. Using sublimation, the moisture in the flowers is completely removed. The pressure in the chamber is reduced by creating a vacuum wherein the boiling point of water is below its freezing point. Electromagnetic radiation is applied on the flowers so that the water in its tissues will not evaporate. This way, the tissues won"t shrink, preserving the exact appearance of the flowers. After the process, a polymer coating is applied on the flowers in order to prevent shattering and to stop moisture from being absorbed in the tissues again. If the colors of the blooms fade, they can be painted back on.
Freeze-drying is the most expensive way to preserve flowers. In tropical countries such as the Philippines, freeze-dried flowers require high maintenance because of the tropical climate when the moisture content can reach up to 99%. However, freeze-drying is the only way to keep your flowers exactly how they look like for a long time. The technology might be expensive, but the results are rewarding. Imagine seeing your wedding bouquet everyday and remembering that heart-stopping moment when you said I Do. It would definitely be worth the price.