Pine cones are very decorative and are often associated with autumn and Christmas. These cones, which come from conifers, come in different shapes and sizes. The pine cones can be easily processed in beautiful wreaths or Christmas pieces. They are also very decorative on a beautifully decorated platter. Pine cones are for sale in garden centers, but can also easily be found yourself and then dried in the oven. The dried pinecones can then be given a modern look by waxing or bleaching the pinecones for a whitewashed effect.
Pine cones
Pine cones are the cones of a fir tree. There are more than 100 different types of pine trees and each pine tree can be recognized by its fruit. The fruits of a fir tree differ in shape and length. A pine tree contains both male and female pine cones. The male fruits are generally a bit smaller than the female varieties. The pine cone grows on a tree for about three years. Then the fruit of the pine tree is fully grown and dried. Only then does the pine tree drop the pine cone.
Help, bugs in my pinecones
Pine cones, which have been sought in the forest themselves, are often still wet. Because the pinecones you are looking for are often wet, the scales are closed. The space behind these scales is the shelter of many insects and other critters that love to inhabit and live in pine cones. When you get the pinecones at home and use them as decoration, for example in beautiful wreaths or cherry pieces, the bugs will look for a favorable place in the house. To prevent this, it is wise to dry the pinecones in the oven or thoroughly clean with vinegar before you use them.
Dry in the oven
If you prefer to bake the bugs in the pinecone away in the oven, preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Then put the pinecones in an oven dish and place in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Check the pinecones regularly during baking to make sure they don’t burn in the oven.
Wash with vinegar
Those who prefer not to use the oven to remove the little bugs in the pinecones can choose to clean the pinecones with vinegar. To do this, make a mixture of two parts lukewarm water with one part vinegar and immerse the pinecones found in the mixture. Leave them well submerged in the water and vinegar mixture for about half an hour. Then rinse the pinecones under lukewarm tap water and pat them dry with kitchen paper or a towel. Then let the pine cones dry well on a few sheets of kitchen paper, so that the scales open again.
Pine cones bleached for a whitewash effect
If you want to use beautiful rustic pine cones for decoration, you can choose to bleach them with bleach. When you bleach the pine cones, the fruits get a whitewash effect. To bleach the pinecones, it is advisable to cover the work surface well with plastic or old newspapers and to wear plastic gloves yourself. Use an old bowl where you put the pinecones. Only use about six pine cones at a time, this minimum number will benefit the result. Pour pure bleach over the pinecones you placed in the bowl. Make sure they are dipped well under the bleach. The pinecones will have a tendency to float to the top, so it is wise to put some weight on them so that the whole fruit remains under the bleach. Leave the pinecones in the bleach for about 24 hours. Remove the pinecones from the bleach and rinse them under lukewarm water. Then let the bleached pine cones dry on a paper towel.
Wax with leftover candle wax
Leftovers from candles are often thrown away, but this is actually a shame. Scraps of old candles often lend themselves well to creative projects. Tie a string to the pinecones or glue them to a stick with the glue gun. Melt the leftover candles in an old pan and briefly submerge the pine cones. Let them drain and dry over a bunch of old newspaper or a piece of plastic.
Make scented pine cones yourself
Not only can you give the pine cones a decorative look, but you can also make them smell wonderful. For example, a scent that goes well with autumn and winter is cinnamon. Put the dry and clean pine cones in a tightly sealable bag and then spray them with fragrance oil in a spray bottle with some water. Then close the bag with the sprayed pinecones tightly and let them sit in the sealed bag for about five weeks.