Welcome!
With use, Wisedry silica gel absorbs moisture from fresh flowers and loses its drying power. To make it active again, you’ll need to remove the absorbed moisture by heating it.
Check Saturation by Color
Wisedry flower drying silica gel changes color to indicate its saturation level, shifting from orange to dark green. As more silica gel turns green, its drying capacity diminishes. When most of the silica gel is green, it’s time to reactivate or “recharge” it through heating.
Now let’s see how to reactivate it to restore its moisture-absorbing power.
1. Oven Method (Recommended)
* Please read through the steps first to make sure you don’t miss anything important.
Pro Tip: An oven provides more precise temperature control and more even heating, which can effectively extend the life of the silica gel.
How:
Step 1. Spread the silica gel evenly across the baking sheet and avoid creating a thick layer.
Step 2. Set the temperature to 250℉ (120℃).
Step 3. Periodically open the oven to check the color of the silica gel.
Checking is the key:
Baking time varies depending on the amount of silica gel and how saturated it is, typically taking 1-3 hours. We recommend checking every 30-60 minutes and stirring the gel with a spoon to:
- See if the silica gel at the bottom has returned to orange.
- Ensure more even heating.
Example:
To help you achieve optimal results, here is an example setting for reactivating 500g for your reference:
| Saturated Weight | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 660g (500g originally) | 120℃/250℉ | 60-90 min (30+30+30 min recommended) |
Completion: When most of the green silica gel is back to orange, the reactivation or “recharge” is complete.
Kindly Note:
Since the orange silica gel is small and dispersed, it’s impossible to see if every single one has reverted to orange, and this won’t affect its usability.
When it is done, stir the silica gel well while it’s still hot, and the residual heat will dry any remaining green silica gel. Allow it to cool before reusing it for flower drying or storing it in an airtight container.
Important:
- The silica gel and baking sheet will be hot after heating, so handle them with care.
- If you are sensitive to dust, we recommend wearing a mask during the process.
- Wash the baking sheet after use.
2. Microwave Method
* Please read through the steps before starting to make sure you don’t miss anything important.
Pro Tip: While we recommend using an oven to reactivate Wisedry silica gel, a microwave can also do the job safely if you follow these instructions.
How:
Step 1. Place the silica gel in a microwave-safe container.
Important: Use only microwave-safe containers (such as ceramic, glass, or microwave-safe plastic). Never use metal! A shallow container will promote more even heating.
Step 2. Microwave on medium-high (75% power).
Step 3. Periodically, open the microwave to check the color of the silica gel.
Checking is the Key:
Microwaving time varies depending on the amount of silica gel and how saturated it is, typically taking 5-20 minutes. We recommend checking every 2-4 minutes and stirring the gel with a spoon to:
- See if the silica gel at the bottom has returned to orange.
- Ensure more even heating.
Example:
To help you achieve optimal results, here is an example setting for reactivating 500g for your reference:
| Saturated Weight | Microwave Output | Mode | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 660g (500g originally) | 700W | Mid-High/70% PL | 6-9 min |
| 1000W | Mid-High/70% PL | 4-7 min |
Completion: When most of the green silica gel is back to orange, the reactivation or “recharge” is complete.
Kindly Note:
Since the orange silica gel is small and dispersed, it’s impossible to see if every single one has reverted to orange, and this won’t affect its usability.
When it is done, stir the silica gel well while it’s still hot, and the residual heat will dry any remaining green silica gel. Allow it to cool before reusing it for flower drying or storing it in an airtight container.
Important:
- The silica gel and baking sheet will be hot after heating, so handle them with care.
- If you are sensitive to dust, we recommend wearing a mask during the process.
- Wash the baking sheet after use.
Happy Drying!
Recharging silica gel is a process that you’ll get better at with practice. Feel free to adjust the time as needed. With proper care, your silica gel will help you create beautiful dried flowers time and time again!
