Few flowers can match the elegance and charm of peonies. With their lush, fragrant blooms and wide array of colors, they make stunning additions to any indoor space. Proper care is essential to ensure that your cut peonies remain vibrant and beautiful for as long as possible. Here’s a complete guide to keeping your cut peonies fresh and thriving indoors.
Choosing the Best Peonies
The longevity of cut peonies begins with selecting the right blooms. If you’re buying from a florist or cutting them from your garden, look for peonies that are in the soft bud stage—when the buds feel like a marshmallow when gently squeezed. These blooms will open beautifully indoors and last longer than fully opened flowers.
Avoid flowers with drooping stems or discolored petals, as these are signs of age or improper care.
Preparing the Stems
Proper preparation of the stems is key to extending the life of your cut peonies. Follow these steps:
- Trim the Stems: Use sharp, clean scissors or pruning shears to cut 1–2 inches off the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle. This increases the surface area for water uptake.
- Remove Leaves: Strip any leaves that will be submerged in water. Leaves in water can rot, leading to bacterial growth that shortens the lifespan of your flowers.
- Optional Step: For woody stems, gently split the bottom inch of the stem or lightly crush it with a hammer to improve water absorption.
Water and Vase Setup
Clean water and the right vase are essential for keeping peonies fresh.
- Choose the Right Vase: Select a vase tall enough to support the heavy blooms and wide enough to allow airflow between the stems.
- Fill with Water: Fill the vase with room-temperature water and add flower food, which provides essential nutrients and prevents bacterial growth. If you don’t have flower food, you can make your own by mixing 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of white vinegar, and a few drops of bleach into a quart of water. Using a fertilizer meant for cut flowers will yield the best results
- Replace the Water Regularly: Change the water every 2–3 days, cleaning the vase thoroughly each time to remove bacteria. Re-cut the stems slightly with each water change to keep them fresh.
Placement
Where you place your vase can significantly impact the longevity of your cut peonies.
- Avoid Direct Sunlight: Place the vase in a cool spot away from direct sunlight, which can cause the flowers to wilt faster.
- Keep Away from Heat Sources: Avoid placing the vase near heat sources like radiators, vents, or appliances, as heat speeds up the aging process.
- No Drafts: Keep the vase away from cold drafts or breezes that can dry out the petals.
- Separate from Ripening Fruit: Ripening fruits like bananas release ethylene gas, which can cause peonies and other flowers to age prematurely.
Encouraging Blooming
If your peonies are still in the bud stage and you want them to bloom more quickly, place the vase in a slightly warmer spot. Buds will gradually open within 1–2 days. For a more dramatic effect, you can gently submerge the peony heads in lukewarm water for 15–30 minutes to hydrate them and encourage blooming.
Extending Their Lifespan
To enjoy your peonies for as long as possible:
- Cool Storage: If you need to preserve peonies for a special occasion, you can refrigerate them. Wrap the stems in moist paper towels, place the blooms in a plastic bag, and store them in the fridge. When ready, re-cut the stems and place them in fresh water.
- Wilted Petals: If some petals start to wilt, gently remove them to maintain the aesthetic of the arrangement.
Creative Uses for Aging Peonies
When your peonies begin to fade, don’t throw them away. Instead, repurpose them:
- Dried Flowers: Hang the stems upside down in a dark, dry place to preserve them for decorative arrangements.
- Potpourri: Use the petals in homemade potpourri by drying them and combining them with fragrant oils and herbs.
- Pressed Flowers: Press the petals in a heavy book to use for crafts or framed art.
Bayview Peony Variety Chart: https://www.livinghouse.ca/peonyvarieties
