Can I Compost Dried flowers?
(From the Household waste category | 2 comments - join the conversation)Some parts of dried flower arrangements can be composted – it depends how it’s been put together.
The actual flower bits and any moss used to cover the base can be composted – they’re just old, dry plants after all – but if the flowers have been mounted on wires, the wires should be removed first (they can be snipped off with sharp scissors).
The foam base should not be composted – they’re usually a type of synthetic foam and though they will crunch down, it’s not something you want in your compost.
While we’re on the topic of everlasting flowers, artificial flowers – ie ones made from plastic – should definitely not be composted. Silk flowers should probably be avoided too: they often including synthetic fibres or have bits of plastic for support.
Please could you tell me the name of the orange and yellow flowers on your home page which seem to almost dry naturally on their stems? I have grown them before but can’t remember their name! I’d be grateful. Thanks.
I believe they’re helichrysums: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helichrysum
Back when dried flowers arrangements were all the rage in the late 80s, my dad used to grow them for a local florist – he used me as child labour to pinch them off their stems and insert a wire instead. I can still feel texture of the stem underneath my thumbnail :D