As we enter peak flowering season, many gardeners will be filling their living rooms with cut blooms, and a few tricks will help them get the best from blooms.
Peonies are a top pick because they produce show-stopping petals with rugged edges.
The illustrious flowers have a short vase life, typically lasting around five days, but a few hacks will help them outlive their vase life.
Several environmental factors, namely lack of moisture and excessive heat, can cause the plant to wilt prematurely.
Peonies will last longer if stored in a cool place
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Asta Foufas shared his top methods to extend the vase life of the short-lived flowers.
The Technical Manager at Arena Flowers said: “As peony season in the UK is fairly short-lived, lasting from early May to the end of June, it’s important that fans of this beautiful flower get them while they can.
“My top piece of advice to keep your peonies blooming for longer is to keep them cool.
“Simply placing your flowers in the fridge overnight can help them look fresher for longer.
“However, a more practical way of keeping them looking fresh is to store them in a cooler location in your house and keep them out of direct sunlight.
“You should also change the water that the plants are sitting in to remove any bacteria, when when you go to put the peonies back into the vase, make sure to cut the stems at an angle to ensure maximum water absorption.”
These same hacks apply to other flowers, like hydrangeas.
Steve Chilton, gardening expert LeirureBench, shared his preferred methods for prolonging the lifespan of flowers during a conversation with GB News.
The expert explained that hydrangeas will live up to two weeks in a vase if prepared correctly.
“There a couple of ways to prolong the life of a hydrangea once it’s in a vase on display,” said Chilton.
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Peonies typically last around five days in a vase
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He added: “I recommend spraying the leaves with mist as soon as you notice the leaves start to wilt or dry out, as this can be a quick way to revive them in the early stages.”
Another trusted method involves dunking the head of the flower in cold water until the sepals are completely revived.
“Dunk the heads of the hydrangeas right under the water,” advises gardening enthusiast Julie Blanner.
“Leave them for at least 15 minutes. I have seen tips from others that suggest leaving them submerged overnight.”
