Pro tip: stop cutting hydrangea stems straight across

I kept seeing arrangements from other florists where the hydrangeas wilted in under a day, and realized they were just snipping the ends flat. I started crushing the bottom inch of stem with my shears and soaking them in cool water for an hour before designing, and now mine last a full week. What's your go-to trick for keeping thirsty flowers happy?

3 comments

3 Comments

david7391mo ago

My hydrangeas from the grocery store usually last fine with a simple diagonal cut.

claire_butler11mo ago

Actually, a diagonal cut doesn't help hydrangeas much at all.

the_lucas21d ago

Three years back at a garden expo I watched a master florist boil water and dip hydrangea stems in it for exactly 30 seconds. @claire_butler1 would probably say that's overkill, but I tried it on a batch from my own yard and they held up for a full 10 days in a vase. The heat opens up the stem fibers better than any cut or crush in my experience. Just have to be careful not to cook them too long or the stems go mushy.