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 Level 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. In this post, we'll cover two methods: oven and microwave.
Fun Fact: Ever wonder why orange silica gel is preferred over blue?
Oven Method (Recommended)
* Please read through the steps before starting to make sure you don't miss anything important.
Why is an oven recommended? Because an oven provides more precise temperature control and more even heating, which can effectively extend the life of the silica gel.
How:
- Spread the silica gel evenly across the baking sheet and avoid creating a thick layer.
- Set the temperature to 250℉ (120℃).
- Periodically open the oven to check the color of silica gel.
Checking is 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, stirring the gel with a spoon to:
- See if the silica gel at the bottom has returned to orange.
- Ensure more even heating.
⭐When most of the green silica gel is back to orange, the reactivation or "recharge" is complete.
Since the orange silica gel are 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.
Could silica gel get overheated?
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.
Microwave Method
* Please read through the steps before starting to make sure you don't miss anything important.
While we recommend using an oven to reactivate Wisedry silica gel, a microwave can also do the job safely if you follow these instructions.
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.
How:
- Place the silica gel in a microwave-safe container.
- Microwave on medium-high (75% power).
- Periodically open the microwave to check the color of silica gel.
Checking is 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, stirring the gel with a spoon to:
- See if the silica gel at the bottom has returned to orange.
- Ensure more even heating.
⭐When most of the green silica gel is back to orange, the reactivation or "recharge" is complete.
Since the orange silica gel are 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.
Could silica gel get overheated?
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 container after use.
Conclusion
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. Happy drying!
Can I reactivate silica gel by drying it in the sun?
Can I use flower drying silica gel indefinitely?
