Dried flowers can last from several months up to 3 or 4 years. The shelf life depends on the plant variety as well as on certain environmental conditions. Some plants simply fade sooner than others.
And when it comes to fading, the sun is the decisive factor. The more direct sunlight the plants get, the faster they fade. Therefore, all accessories made from dried flowers should be stored in a dark place. Of course, you don't want to hide bouquets and wreaths. But it is better not to place them in direct sunlight. And, of course, dried flowers should not get wet.
Sometimes you read that you should spray the dried flowers with hairspray/varnish to make them last longer. I advise against this. Firstly, it is not necessary and secondly, the varnish can change the color of some plants.
In a nutshell:
- Store dried flowers in a dark, dry and preferably cool place
- when decorating with dried flowers, make sure that they are not in direct sunlight (if you want the colors to last longer)
- no moisture
- do not spray with hairspray/varnish