I would recommend against using dye. To dye polyester a solid color, you must boil the entire artificial plant in a pot with a special type of polyester dye for half an hour. Another way to use polyester dye is more practical, by applying the dye to paper and then ironing it onto the polyester, but I think there's a better option still.

Instead of using dye, I recommend that you purchase a fabric paint whose manufacturer indicates that it will work on polyester. (See "Fabric Paints: a different way to color fibers".) Note that not all fabric paints can be used on polyester. However, all of the fabric paints made by Jacquard Products can be. The most dye-like of these is called Dye-Na-Flow. It is a fabric paint that is made to mimic the way that dye flows. Another option would be Dharma Pigment Dyes, sold via mail-order by Dharma Trading Company. Both will work on both polyester and silk flowers or leaves.

Some good crafts stores will carry Jacquard Products fabric paints such as Dye-Na-Flow. If not, you can mail-order them from any of a number of art supply companies, such as Blick Art Materials, or from the Dharma Trading Company web site.

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