Hydrangeas – How to make them last for 10 Days!
Hydrangeas are in full bloom and it is no secret that they are one of my favorite flowers! Their bold blooms are striking against their brilliant green leaves. They add happiness to any room with their casual and bright appearance; they evoke a feeling that says “come on in and stay awhile!”
Our last home was surrounded by amazing, mature Hydrangea bushes. I took for granted how good I had it… always having a home full of hydrangea! We had so many blooms, I couldn’t keep up! However, now that our current home has only two (newly planted) bushes, it produces a minimal amount of blooms. So, needless to say, I would like to extend the lives of these beauties for as long as I can!
The brilliant charm of Hydrangeas is often short lived (these blooms can be quite the cry babies!) if proper care isn’t taken to extend their cut flower life. However, following these simple steps will ensure that your blooms shine on for up to 10 days without all the fuss!
TOOLS NEEDED:
Hydrangea Stems (best in odd numbers)
Vase or Pitcher
Sharp Scissors or Shears
Water
Ice Cubes
STEP ONE
Cut your Hydrangea stems to the desired length for your vase, using a 45 degree diagonal cut. Cutting the stems at this angle, rather than straight across, allows for greater surface area and a therefore an increased water intake. Make these cuts using a sharp scissors or pruning shears; Dull tools can crush the stem and impede its ability to properly take in the water. (Recutting the stems in this fashion is recommended ever 2-3 days for continued success)
STEP TWO
Next, carefully take your shears and peel back a small strip of the stem. It is important that the location of this cut will be submerged in the water. Doing this allows for a greater water uptake and thus happy flowers!
STEP THREE
Fill your vase with ice cold water (hint: add ice cubes!) This summertime flower enjoys the cold plunge 🙂
STEP FOUR – ARRANGING YOUR HYDRANGEA
Want to know the key to arranging Hydrangea? Don’t over think it! The effortless look of these beautiful flowers is exactly that… effortless (well, except for the fussy water part!) But really… just plop 3, 5 or 7 stems (odd numbers look best!) in a vase and let them settle. These blooms are so full they will arrange themselves 🙂
STEP FIVE – ENJOY
Once the initial steps are taken, these flowers will last for up to 10 days! All that is needed is daily water refills. If your flowers start to appear droopy, add a handful of ice cubes to your vase and watch them perk back up!