By Kavita Dadhich, resin artist at Varmala Preservation India, Jaipur (working with wedding flowers since 2010). Updated 26 October 2026.
Quick answer: Dry your varmala in shade, in an airy room with a fan on low, for about 7–14 days (up to about three weeks in monsoon) until every petal feels papery and dry. Keep it out of direct sun, plastic bags and humid rooms. Pack it loosely in a cardboard box with soft tissue. If you live in Jaipur, you do not need to dry it. We collect it fresh from your home the same day.
- Moisture is the main reason preserved flowers turn brown or grow fungus inside resin.
- Do not courier a fresh varmala. It spends 3–4 days in transit and starts to rot.
- Slight colour change while drying is normal. You approve the dried flowers on video before we pour any resin.
Your wedding is over, the varmala is lying in a corner, and the flowers are starting to droop. You want to preserve it, but you live far from our Jaipur studio and you are worried you will ruin it before it reaches us. This guide shows you exactly how to dry and pack it at home, what to avoid, and how to tell when it is ready.
Table of contents
- Why does a varmala need to be dried before resin?
- Do you need to dry it yourself?
- How to dry a varmala at home: step by step
- How long does drying take?
- How to check that the flowers are fully dry
- Mistakes that spoil a varmala
- How to pack and send the dried varmala
- Kaleere, chooda, wedding card and dupatta
- Can you preserve a varmala in resin at home?
- FAQs
Why does a varmala need to be dried before resin?
A varmala must be dry before it goes into resin because fresh petals hold water. Resin seals that water inside, and trapped moisture makes flowers brown, rot or grow fungus over time. Resin also does not cure well against wet surfaces, which can leave cloudy patches around the flowers.
That is why every professional preservation studio, including ours, works only with dried flowers. The drying step decides how good your final frame will look, more than any other step.
Do you need to dry the varmala yourself?
It depends on where you live.
| Where you are | What you do | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Jaipur | Nothing. Keep the varmala in a cool, shaded place. | Same-day pickup from your home. We dry the flowers in the studio, which takes about 7–10 days for a fresh varmala. |
| Any other city in India | Dry it at home using the steps below, then pack it. | We send you drying and packing instructions for your flowers after booking, then arrange a courier pickup from your home or office. |
Why not just courier it fresh? A courier from another city takes 3–4 days. Inside a closed box, fresh flowers sweat and start to rot before they reach us. A dried varmala travels safely.
How to dry a varmala at home: step by step
- Start within a day of the wedding. The sooner you begin, the better the colour you keep. Flowers that sit in a closed bag for days start to brown.
- Remove plastic and decorations. Take off cellophane, plastic wrap, pins and loose tinsel. Keep the garland itself as it is. We arrange the flowers in the studio.
- Shake off water and dirt. Gently shake the varmala and pat away any water drops with a soft cotton cloth. Do not wash it.
- Choose a shaded, airy room. Pick a room with good air flow and no direct sunlight. Avoid the kitchen and the bathroom, which are humid.
- Lay it flat or hang it. Spread the varmala on newspaper or a clean cotton sheet, or hang it on a hook so air reaches all sides. Do not pile it in a heap.
- Keep a fan on low. Gentle moving air speeds up drying and stops moisture from settling. A strong fan can blow petals loose, so keep it on low.
- Turn it once a day. Turn the garland so the underside also dries. Replace the newspaper if it feels damp.
- Check it every day. Look for soft, dark or smelly spots. If you see white fuzz, separate that part and message us a photo.
How long does it take to dry a varmala?
Most varmalas take about 7–14 days to dry at home in dry weather, and up to about three weeks in monsoon or very humid weather. The exact time depends on the flowers, the weather and the air in your room.
| Condition | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Dry summer weather | Usually 7–10 days. Keep the varmala away from direct sun and hot balconies so petals do not turn brittle and pale. |
| Monsoon or humid cities | Usually 15–21 days, and the risk of fungus is higher. Keep the fan on and check every day. |
| Winter | Usually 10–15 days, because cold air slows drying. Do not use a heater or hair dryer to rush it. |
| Thick flowers (big roses, marigold heads, tuberose strings) | The centres hold water longest. Check inside the flower, not only the outer petals. |
After you book, our team tells you how many days to dry your specific flowers in your season, and checks photos with you before you pack.
How to check that the flowers are fully dry
- Petals feel light and papery, like dry paper, not soft or cool.
- The centre of a rose or marigold feels firm when you press it gently.
- The garland feels much lighter than on the wedding day.
- There is no damp or sour smell.
- There are no dark wet patches, white fuzz or black spots.
If you are not sure, send us a short video on WhatsApp. It is much easier to fix a damp varmala before it is packed than after it arrives.
Mistakes that spoil a varmala
- Keeping it in a plastic bag or airtight box while damp. This traps moisture and is the most common cause of fungus.
- Drying in direct sunlight. Strong sun bleaches colour and makes petals crumble.
- Using a hair dryer, heater, oven or microwave on a full varmala. Heat cooks the petals and turns them brown.
- Drying in the bathroom or kitchen. Steam keeps flowers wet.
- Washing the flowers. Water adds days to drying and raises the fungus risk.
- Couriering it fresh to save time. Three or four days in a box is enough to spoil it.
If part of your varmala has already caught fungus, do not throw it away yet. Read whether fungus-affected flowers can still be preserved in resin and send us photos.
How to pack and send the dried varmala
- Use a cardboard box, not a plastic container. Pick a box slightly bigger than the folded garland.
- Line it with soft tissue paper or a soft cotton cloth.
- Place the varmala loosely in gentle curves. Do not press or fold it tightly; dry petals break.
- Fill the empty space with crumpled paper so the garland cannot slide around.
- Add a slip with your name, phone number and order details.
- Close the box with tape and write “Fragile – dried flowers” on top.
Pickup: we arrange a courier pickup from your home or office. Pickup and return delivery together cost ₹300 for small flower preservation and ₹500 for a full varmala. Inside Jaipur, pickup is free within about 3 km of our studio. If you prefer to send it yourself, courier it to our studio at P 23, Krishna Circle, near Pathak Electricals, Narayan Vihar, Mansarovar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302020.
What happens after your varmala reaches our studio?
We check the flowers as soon as they arrive and send you photos. If some petals arrived slightly damp, we finish drying them gently in silica gel. Then we share videos at every stage: the dried flowers, the arrangement, the design layout and the photo placement. You approve the design before any resin is poured, and you can still ask for changes at that point. Most frames are ready about 16–21 days after your dried flowers reach us. A full varmala can take up to about 26 days, because thick resin is poured in layers and each layer must cure fully. Delivery within India then takes about 4–5 working days.
A slight colour change while drying is normal. Deep reds often darken and white flowers can turn creamy. You see the real dried colours on video before we start, so there are no surprises.
Kaleere, chooda, wedding card and dupatta
Metal and fabric keepsakes do not need drying. Wrap kaleere and chooda in soft cloth so they do not scratch, keep the wedding card flat between two pieces of cardboard, and fold a dupatta piece neatly. Pack them in the same box as the varmala, or in a separate small box inside it. You can see how couples combine these in our kaleere and chooda preservation frames.
Can you preserve a varmala in resin at home?
You can dry a varmala at home, but pouring a large resin frame at home is hard to get right. Resin must be mixed in the exact ratio, poured in thin layers to stop heat damage, and cleared of air bubbles. The pieces need a dust-free space while they cure. A mistake usually cannot be undone, and the flowers are lost. For small petals, a DIY kit can be a fun project. For your wedding varmala, most couples prefer a studio that shows them each step. Our guide on dry preservation vs epoxy resin preservation explains the options.
Frequently asked questions
Can fresh flowers be put in resin without drying?
No. Fresh flowers hold water, and resin traps it inside. Over weeks the flowers turn brown or grow fungus. Always dry them fully first.
How many days after the wedding can I start drying?
Start within a day if you can. Flowers kept for several days in a bag or closed room lose colour and may catch fungus before drying even starts.
Should I keep the varmala in the fridge?
We do not recommend it as a drying method. A fridge is cold and humid, so it slows drying. Our team will tell you what suits your flowers when you book.
My varmala has started turning brown. Can it still be preserved?
Often, yes. Browning on the edges is common. Send us clear photos on WhatsApp and we will tell you honestly which parts can be used.
Do I need to remove the thread from the varmala?
No. Keep the garland as it is and remove only plastic, pins and loose decorations. We separate and arrange the flowers in the studio.
Can I preserve my varmala if I live outside India?
Yes, we work with couples living outside India and ship finished pieces abroad. Message us on WhatsApp before you start drying, and our team will guide you.
Ready to preserve your varmala?
Dry it in shade, keep it out of plastic, and pack it loosely in a cardboard box. That is all it takes to reach us safely. Then pick a design from our varmala photo frames, check the right frame size for your varmala, or see what it costs in our varmala preservation price guide. Questions about your flowers? Message our team and send a photo. We reply with honest advice.