You also need a shallow dish or pan to immerse certain flowers and leaves which do not absorb too well from their stem ends. Immerse the stems into the solution. They absorb the warm solution easily but can take from 3 days to 6 weeks, depending on the species. The progress of the glycerine up into the leaves is visible, so its not difficult to determine when the process is finished. If the tips of the branches have sagged, then hang them upside down for a few days to allow the glycerine to reach the tips.
Glycerine turns leaves brown as it replaces the water they once contained.
The feel is almost the same as they did before the treatment and they are glossy and flexible. The solution can be used and reused. Do not worry if it turns dark in colour. This is the easiest and most popular way of drying flowers. Instead of replacing water in the plant, the object of air drying is to eliminate all water.