Reviving Hydrangeas

by | Jan 27, 2020 | All Things Home | 28 comments

This post may contain affiliate links.

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up some hydrangeas and a few other flowers from Trader Joe’s to use in upcoming photoshoots I had planned.  Right after getting them home, I plopped them in a bucket of water in the laundry room sink and left them there until I was ready to arrange them the next day.

The next day, though, three of the six hydrangea blooms were wilting!  Oh, the disappointment!  I love hydrangeas, but they can be unreliable sometimes.  I huffed about it a bit, but I needed to get the pictures done, so I used the good blooms and filled the arrangement in with some other flowers.

But, I still was hoping to be able to use the wilted hydrangeas, so I put them in a sink filled with cold water.  I’ve tried this trick in the past and it works well if the flowers aren’t too far gone.  I left the flowers to soak for about 2-3 hours, turning them occasionally, so all of the leaves and bloom had some time being fully submerged.

And, the wilted flowers perked right up!  I gave them a fresh cut on the stem and put them into some fresh water.

Not only were the blooms revived, but they lasted for about five more days!

 

It was a happy ending.

I know there are other tricks for reviving hydrangeas, but this is the one I’ve used over the years.

I’ve heard there is some trick with boiling water.  Has anyone tried that?

 

Receive a Daily Dose of Encouragement and Inspiration!

Stay Inspired with Marian's Daily Blog Posts

Sign up to receive uplifting blog posts directly in your inbox! Join our community of like-minded individuals and start your day with a burst of creativity, motivation, and positivity. Whether you’re seeking decorating tips, DIY projects, or simply a dose of inspiration, Marian’s daily posts are sure to brighten your day and ignite your creativity. Don’t miss out on your daily dose of encouragement – subscribe now!

    28 Comments

    1. Heidi

      Roses, fresh cut the stems on an angle. Increases surface area for water take up. Put bottom in or so in boiling water for a minute or so. The straight into water. Has worked for me

    2. Heidi

      Sorry meant to read inch or so

    3. Janet in Kansas City

      I’ve used boiling water to dry them, and I prefer them dried. Dip the ends in boiling water for like 30 seconds, then put them in a vase with no water. It has been more successful doing this as they go into their fall colors.

    4. Susan

      Cut the stem upward. Not shorter. Into the stem. My Trader Joe’s hydrangeas last at least 10 days doing that

      • Lolly

        I do this, too. Then put the stems in boiling water till the bubbles settle, then into a jar of fresh water.

    5. beverlee lyons

      nothing has worked for me. I asked the florist at the grocery and she didn’t know either.

    6. Lori Schmitt

      I dip the fresh cut stems into Alum (found in the spices section at the grocery store).

      • Maureen

        Lori, I do the same thing. Cut the stems at a deep angle, dip them in Alum, then put them in water. They last for days.

    7. Sue Neumaier

      I read to smash the stem with a hammer , then water can go higher into the stem

    8. Claire

      I live in Georgia and grow hydrangeas. The blooms that are cut early in the season wilt faster then the blooms cut later in the summer. Either way, if you dip them in alum, they are supposed to last longer. Their stems contain a sticky substance that forms a seal on the stem and apparently the alum prevents this.

    9. Helene Reid

      You should recut the stem on an angle when you bring them home. When they are out of water the cells seal over and can’t take up water.

    10. Patrice

      Any time a cut flower of any kind is exposed to air after taken out of a water source…it will close up the cut as a defense mechanism … All flowers are to be cut under running water and then placed immediately in the water of the container to where they will stay …every time they are taken out of water…like refreshing after 2 days… they need to be cut again under running water because they have closed the cut when exposed to the air.

      In the 1990’s I was an investor in a floral design firm located next door to a wholesale flower supplier ….
      I learned a massive amount about cut flowers from both sources!

      Try it … you’ll see a huge difference in the life of your cut flowers!

      • monique odman

        Patrice is right. I did flower design before getting more decorating work in NYC and miss being surrounded by flowers and greens and choosing those marvelous things from the flower market district. The only downside was to be there very early mornings….It also helps to take off almost all the leaves because they need to drink lots of water.
        Giving your hydrangeas a cold bath revived them. Lately I also get our flowers when shopping at trader Joe.

        • Marianne

          When I dip my cut stems in Alum , they last forever .

    11. Karen Stephens

      My mom had a blue hydrangea bush outside of the kitchen window of my childhood home. We had a gas stove, so immediately after cutting the stem on a slant, she burned the cut end briefly in the flame to seal it. It’s something I’ve always done, along with soaking wilted ones in cool water for a few hours.

    12. Sara

      I love hydrangeas and once had a simple arrangement with three in a mason jar. Only two hours after receiving it the flowers all wilted and drooped terribly. I’m going to try this trick next time and also the tips listed above. Thanks!

    13. Maggie

      The trick to dip the angle-cut stems in alum before putting them in the vase, truly works! I highly recommend it.

    14. Sandy

      Yes, I sent you the message about boiling water…it works over and over! Just cut the stem each time, put them in almost boiling water and let them sit…I had a beautiful arrangement from a friend that had a few hydrangeas in it and I would just take the, out when they got droopy and do this over and over…the arrangement last me almost a month!

    15. MaryLisa

      Good to know! Flowers can be costly and it’s nice to keep them around.

    16. Michele M.

      I always put an old copper penny in the bottom of the vessel, too – not sure what chemical reaction happens but my hydrangeas (and doing all the above as well) seem to last a very long time.

      Your hydrangeas look beautiful – what a freshness in middle of winter. Just lovely. Flowers are such a blessing.

    17. Jeanine

      I’ve had the same issues with Hydrangeas from TJ’s. You wake up the next morning and they are droopy sad. I havent soaked them in the sink. Good idea! I usually submerge them in a tall clear cylinder type vase. After revived, I have also cut the stem upwards so more water gets absorbed. Makes me want to buy some. .. my favorite flower.

    18. Teresa

      One trick I learned when dealing with cut hydrangeas was to cut the stem on a angle and take a small vegetable grader and peel the outside of the stalk. This allows water to get into the stem better and therefore keeps it from wilting. Seems to work for me but hydrangeas can be tricky sometimes.

    19. Mika

      I cut stem in the big base of water, not air go to the stem, then replace in the base with sprite in it.

    20. Linda

      One additional trick that hasn’t been mentioned yet is to spritz the hydrangeas with water every day. The flower absorbs water through it’s petals in addition to the stem. This trick keeps the hydrangea hydrated, especially important in our dry heated indoor air during the winter.

    21. Jayne

      Thanks for the Alum tip! I have some lovely Hydrangeas drooping in front of me as I write this. I have some Alum in my pantry and am going to try that tip to see if I can make these blooms last a little longer!

    22. Cynthia Johnson

      Marian,
      And just like that, MAGIC!
      They are beautiful~ Cynthia

    23. Rita

      A neighbor of mine has a green thumb and beautiful flowers. She can create a gorgeous arrangement with iron weed and golden rod. Her trick is to give them a fresh angle cut and have then sit in warm water. I haven’t heard of the boiling method.

    24. Barbara Cuevas

      care for fresh cut flowers – ALWAYS re cut stem ends when you get home. Room temperature water best.
      DO NOT burn ends, smash ends with hammer or anything else like that.. Always use flower food – flower food is sugar and an anti bacterial agent.

      I have a degree in Horticulture and spent 20 years in the flower industry. Check with the Society of American florists for care and handling information.

    Hello!

    Marian Parsons - Miss Mustard Seed

    I’m Marian, aka Miss Mustard Seed, a wife, mother, paint enthusiast, lover of all things home and an entrepreneur, author, artist, designer, freelance writer & photographer.  READ MORE to learn more about me, my blog and my business…

    Let's Connect

    WATCH ON YOUTUBE

    decorating, projects, and recipes for spring

    Categories

    Articles by Date

     

    our sponsors

     

     

    Bliss and Tell Branding Company

     

    Pin It on Pinterest

    Share This