Can You Put Dried Flowers in Epoxy? Everything You Need to Know
If you love resin art, you’ve probably wondered:
Can you put dried flowers in epoxy resin?
The short answer is yes—and you absolutely should.
In fact, using properly dried flowers is essential for creating clear, professional-quality epoxy resin pieces.
Let’s explain why dried flowers work, what happens if you use fresh flowers, and how to prepare flowers correctly for epoxy resin.
❌ Why You Should Never Use Fresh Flowers in Epoxy
Fresh flowers contain a high amount of internal moisture. When placed directly into epoxy resin, that trapped moisture causes serious problems:
- Browning or color fading
- Mold growth over time
- Cloudy resin or micro-bubbles
- Soft or improperly cured resin
- Shrinking or distortion inside the resin
Epoxy resin is not breathable. Once moisture is sealed inside, it has nowhere to escape.
👉 That’s why fresh flowers and epoxy never mix.
✅ Why Dried Flowers Are Perfect for Epoxy Resin
When flowers are fully dried, all internal moisture is removed. This makes them stable and compatible with epoxy resin.
Benefits of using dried flowers in epoxy:
- Maintains original color and shape
- Prevents mold or cloudiness
- Creates crystal-clear resin results
- Ensures long-term durability
- Produces professional, gift-quality artwork
For resin artists in the U.S., dried flowers are the industry standard.
🌼 What Is the Best Way to Dry Flowers for Epoxy?
While air-drying and pressing are options, silica gel crystals are widely considered the best method for drying flowers for epoxy resin.
Why Resin Artists Prefer Silica Gel Drying
Silica gel crystals offer key advantages:
- Small, sand-like grains that gently support petals
- Helps flowers retain their natural shape and color
- Works for both large blooms and delicate flowers
- Non-toxic and safe for home use
- Reusable after reactivation
⏱ Typical drying time: 7–10 days, depending on flower size.
💡 Tip: Wear a mask during use to avoid inhaling fine dust.
🌈 Use Color-Indicating Silica Gel (Important)
Color-indicating silica gel helps you know when it’s saturated:
- Orange → Green = moisture-saturated, needs reactivation
⚠️ Avoid blue indicating silica gel.
Blue silica gel contains cobalt chloride, a toxic chemical not recommended for crafting, home use, or flower preservation.
🌸 How to Use Dried Flowers in Epoxy Resin
Once your flowers are fully dried:
Step 1: Prepare the Flowers
- Remove remaining silica gel gently
- Use tweezers or an air blower to clean petals
Step 2: Pour a Base Resin Layer
- Pour a thin base layer into your mold
- Let it partially cure (tacky stage)
Step 3: Place the Dried Flowers
- Use craft tweezers for precise placement
- Arrange flowers face-up for best visual effect
Step 4: Pour in Layers
- Add resin slowly in thin layers
- Remove bubbles with a heat gun or lighter
Step 5: Cure Completely
- Most epoxy resins cure in 24–72 hours
🌼 Final Thoughts
So, can you put dried flowers in epoxy?
✔ Yes — and it’s the right way
✔ Fresh flowers should never be used
✔ Silica gel drying gives the best results
✔ Properly dried flowers create clear, lasting resin art
Whether you’re preserving wedding flowers, memorial blooms, or garden favorites, drying your flowers correctly is the foundation of beautiful epoxy creations.
🔗 Start Your Resin & Dried Flower Journey
If you’re ready to create professional dried flower resin art, we recommend using epoxy resin specially designed for dried flowers.
It helps preserve color, reduces transparency issues, and ensures long-lasting clarity.