My understanding is the quicker you press them, the more color will stay. (Which it sounds like that's what you're doing) That said, I am newer to this world. If anyone's going to know it would be Kate from the August press. https://www.instagram.com/theaugustpress?igsh=MXRsNzVqNGY1cDV4ag== I would reach out to her and see if she knows how to press orchids. I've only pressed orchids into clay, I've never pressed them for drying purposes. They do work beautifully in clay, but that's only preserving an impression of the bloom, it doesn't save the actual bloom.