Hydrangeas
Flowers
Nothing
says summer like the bursting of blue and
pink flowers from a French hydrangea (Hydrangea
macrophylla)!
It is easy
to take care of them: Cutting at diagonal
will allow the stem to take in the most amount of
water, some will even cut slits or fray the ends of
the stems a little. Place your freshly cut hydrangeas
flowers in a bucket of cool water to soak for an hour
or two before arranging your final product. Use a
commercial floral preservative to get the best
results. This will feed your flowers, maintain a
constant pH, and will serve as an anti-microbial to
prevent premature decay. You should be able to find
this at a local nursery.
Once
you have created your floral masterpiece, keep
it out of drafty areas and direct sunlight to prevent
the flowers from drying. Finally, you can just sit back
and admire your new décor or enjoy your special
moment.
- Fill 2 containers one with at least 4 inches of fresh, cool water and the other with hot water.
- Using sharp scissors or a knife under running water, cut the stems diagonally approximately an inch from each stem’s bottom edge.
- Immediately after cutting, place the stems in the prepared hot water for approximately 5 seconds then place the flowers into the cool water.
- Remove any fading petals.
- Keep hydrangeas flowers away from direct sunlight, drafts or excessive heat.
- Change water and re-cut stems every 24 hours to keep flowers fresh. Assure that your hydrangeas have sufficient water. The flowers will drink an exceptionally large amount of water upon arrival. To refresh the flower, dunk the entire flower head in cool water for approximately 20 minutes. Hydrangeas are also great for dried arrangements. To dry them, simply hang them upside down, preferably in a warm place for a few days. Hydrangeas may lose a little color in the process but the dried flowers will last for eight months or longer.