Scientifically-Proven Tips to Make Peonies Last Longer

Whenever one lays eyes on blooming peonies, he or she can’t stop gazing at their beauty and absorbing all the colours. Since these flowers have a very short life, one needs to know how to take care of this beauty. Luckily, science has some ways to keep your peonies fresh for a longer time. Continue reading the article to know scientifically-proven methods for taking care of peonies.

Plan Before Potting

Carefully plan the purchases of peonies according to your decoration needs. If you need flowers for a day or two, then you might have struck gold when you discovered some large, open peonies. Open peonies are already in the middle of their life cycle. But on the other hand, if you want your flowers to have a long-lasting presence, then go for the soft close buds. They are at the start of their journey and stay longer than the bloomed ones.

Potting Preparations

When preparing your flowers, remove all leaves that will come into contact with water. This will help the flower absorb additional water and food as it grows. While holding the stem under water, cut it at a sharp angle. This prevents air from entering the stem. To ensure maximum water absorption, keep your stems upright in the vase. Also, change the water and add flower food for the interval of 3-4 days. If flower food is too fancy for you, then a teaspoon of sugar will do the trick!

Manage the Blooming Time

If you want your peonies to open up at the earliest, cut at least 2 inches off and arrange them in a vase with warm water. Avoid direct sunlight, but keep the vase in a warm spot for speedy blooming. On the contrary, to prevent your peonies from going down, soak them in cold water with a few ice cubes and put them in a cool spot. You can also keep them in the fridge. However, make sure to separate the flowers from fruits and vegetables in the fridge. This is because such edibles release ethylene gas, which can accelerate the ageing of peonies.

Tip to Save Your Peonies Expenditure

Unprocessed peonies can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Inside the refrigerator, place your peonies flat on top of a dry Ziplock bag. Check to see if there is any wetness on the blossoms or the bag. Keep the bag open and away from your fruits and vegetables. This will provide just enough moisture to keep the buds alive. And once you're ready, simply process your stems and they'll blossom normally.