Drying Plants For Groundwork

[Russ5281]

Has anybody had any experience drying plants to use for ground work? I'm waiting to see if my latest mad scientist concoction works-a mixture of water, glycerine, rubbing alcohol and green food coloring. So far it's too hard to tell if things are working. My past adventures with glycerine have been less than favorable. The plants turn out wilted and rubbery, sorta like the way celery gets when it sits in the refrigerator too long. I tried the microwave route and that was a complete fail. If this experiment tanks, I'm going to give up on the glycerine (bottle is almost empty) and go the silica route.

Russ

 

[1969]

Hi Russ,
I have a massive collection of various dried foliage which I use for groundwork, all of it was gathered fresh and hung upside down on the ceiling in the garage to dry out, works just fine and no need for glycerine or silica. Obviously everything turns brown/yellow once dried but it all paints up well with an airbrush, a spray with hairspray helps keep it in place on your groundwork.

Steve

 

[DEL]

Hi Russ,
I have a massive collection of various dried foliage which I use for groundwork, all of it was gathered fresh and hung upside down on the ceiling in the garage to dry out, works just fine and no need for glycerine or silica. Obviously everything turns brown/yellow once dried but it all paints up well with an airbrush, a spray with hairspray helps keep it in place on your groundwork.

Steve

I do exactly the same. For 'heavier' stuff I use the roots from ash seedlings turned upside down.
Cheers
Derek

 

[Russ5281]

Thanks guys! I'm going to steer away from the glycerine and just hang the stuff upside in my garage.

Russ

 

[Jimmy S]

I found leaving it in a drawer for 4 years then looking for it seems to work. This method also applies to paint, putty and glue.

 

[Mirofsoft]

Can also use tea bag ( used one ), let it dry, can be use for moss on walls
Best

 

[Russ5281]

I've done that before, also good for misc groundwork. Thanks!

 

[kansas kid]

Indeed, dried tea leaves, dried coffee grounds, dried oregano,
dried basil from the spices section of the grocery store, can all
work quite nicely. Also for roots, I like to check out my rather
small Lilac bush in the back forty. I keep it trimmed so it doesn't
get overgrown; and use the lengths of the small diameter branches
from the Lilac bush for all kind of things, such as farmers fence
posts, walls of a 1:35th scale fortress, etc. I like the roots from
the lilac bush because they are very small and near the surface
of the ground. And they're easy to dig up the day after a good
rain. See photo below as an example. Wow, this is the 1st time
I've uploaded a photo on new system. Hope it works. Jayhawker

rain shower. Hope this adds to the info. . .
The Miami Jayhawk

 

[montythefirst]

dried herbs work a treat

 

[Russ5281]

Thanks guys! I use dried herbs from time to time, it does the job. I've also used roots and branches from a lilac bush-very versatile plant! I'm in the process of also drying some plants in sand. I'm trying every avenue of plant drying!

Russ