The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Fresh Cut Hydrangeas from Drooping

Now that we are at the height of hydrangea season, I’m often asked how to keep fresh-cut hydrangeas from drooping.

Does that happen to you too?

It’s disappointing when they wilt.

But there are two ways to prevent that from happening and both work equally well.

Fresh cut hydrangeas wilt when they self-heal from the initial cut.

Because cut stems start to form a substance over the wound to heal itself, water has trouble reaching the blooms.

When the flowers don’t get enough water, they start drooping.

And luckily, there is an easy fix for this.

How to Keep Fresh Cut Hydrangeas from Drooping Using Hot Water

• After the initial cuts are made, boil water.
• Have the second container of room temperature water ready to hold the arrangement.
• Cut hydrangea stems again on an angle to the desired length of the arrangement.

• Optional: some like to smash the bottom of stems so it takes in more water. (I’ve never done this but I’ve heard it works).
• Stand hydrangea stems in hot water for 30 seconds.
• Immediately drop into room temperature water.
• Arrange flowers accordingly.

How to Keep Fresh Cut Hydrangeas from Drooping Using Alum

Alum is a spice that is used for pickling and canning.

But did you know that it can also be used to help keep hydrangeas from wilting?

Here’s how to use it:

• After making the initial cuts from the plant, immediately drop stems in freshwater.
• Get a second container with fresh water ready and grab the alum spice.
• While arranging the blooms, re-cut stems on an angle to the desired length of the arrangement.
• Dip the bottom 1/2 inch of the stem into the alum.
• Drop into the second container
• Arrange the flowers.

Dip the fresh-cut hydrangea in the allum powder.

Then immediately drop into water.

Arrange your flowers accordingly.

I love to mix the colors up a little for some contrast.

How to Revive Wilted Blooms

• If the arrangement’s water is more than a day old, dump it and add fresh water before reviving.
• Soak the blooms for several hours. I do this in the kitchen sink.
• Re-cut all the stems at an angle.
• Choose and follow one of the above methods to finish reviving the blooms.
• Note: if the arrangement is much older, blooms may be more difficult to revive. But give it a shot!

Don’t these fresh-cut hydrangeas look so beautiful?

I love how they look in this pretty vintage container too.

I kept them outside for a bit but wound up bringing them indoors in my kitchen.

Because I love how they look on the kitchen island with those vintage seed prints in the background.

Since using these techniques, I haven’t had trouble with fresh-cut hydrangeas again.

So now there are more blooms to enjoy indoors!

I hope you found this post helpful to fix drooping hydrangeas.

My fresh-cut hydrangeas last so much longer in arrangements now.

Although both methods work pretty well, I prefer using the alum method.

More About Hydrangeas

• The Complete Guide to Hydrangea Care and Their Flowers
• How to Dry a Hydrangea the Easy Way
• How to Divide Hydrangeas
• How to Propagate Hydrangeas in 7 Easy Steps
• Why Aren’t My Hydrangeas Blooming?
• Why Aren’t My Hydrangeas Blooming – Update?

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