How to Make a Dried Orange Garland: Eco-Friendly Christmas Decorations
Learn how to make a dried orange garland and eco-friendly Christmas decorations with dehydrated citrus slices, twine and a few simple tools.
A dried orange garland is a strand of dehydrated citrus wheels threaded onto twine or ribbon and hung as a natural Christmas decoration. To make one, you need about 20 to 30 dehydrated orange slices, cotton twine, a large needle and somewhere warm and dry to work.
Start with fully dehydrated orange slices. They should bend without snapping and feel dry on both sides; soft centres will go mouldy once hung. If you're dehydrating your own, slice oranges 3 to 5mm thick and dry them at 90 to 100°C for 3 to 4 hours, or buy from us!
Cut a length of twine about 30cm longer than your intended garland. This gives you enough to tie loops at each end for hanging over mantelpieces, along bannisters or around window frames.
Thread the needle with the twine and push it through the flesh of an orange slice, just below the pith, avoiding the central pith which is the weakest point. Pull it along until it sits roughly 5cm from the end of the twine.
Continue adding slices one at a time, spacing them 5 to 10cm apart depending on how full you want the garland to look. Alternate directions, one slice facing left and the next facing right, so the strand hangs flat and doesn't twist.
For a fuller, more Christmassy strand, add a cinnamon stick, star anise pod or dried apple slice between every few orange wheels. Thread these the same way, through a natural gap or by tying them on with a short piece of twine.
Once you reach the end, tie off the last slice with a simple double knot and leave a 15cm tail. Tie matching loops at both ends for hanging, then trim any excess twine neatly.
Hang the garland in a dry spot away from direct heat sources. Dehydrated citrus will absorb moisture from steamy kitchens, so fireplaces, radiators and cooker hoods will shorten its lifespan. A hallway, dining room or covered porch works best.
Other orange Christmas decorations. Use the same slices to fill glass jars or bowls as table centrepieces, thread individual slices into gift tags, or tuck them into wreaths with eucalyptus and pine. A bowl of dried oranges, cinnamon and cloves also scents a room without a synthetic diffuser.
The pairings
- 20 to 30 Batch & Peel dehydrated orange wheels (or a mixed citrus pack)
- Cotton twine, jute string or natural ribbon, roughly 2 to 3 metres
- A large tapestry needle with a wide eye
- Cinnamon sticks, star anise, bay leaves or dried apple slices (optional)
- A warm, dry room for final airing if the slices still feel soft
Pairs with