Keep cut hydrangeas fresh and vibrant for weeks with these anti-wilting tips! Plus, learn how to revive droopy blooms.
Ah, hydrangeas. Those big, beautiful pom-poms of color that grace our gardens and brighten our homes. But let’s be honest, haven’t we all experienced the dread of watching those once-perky blooms start to droop and wilt in a vase? It’s so disappointing that can turn even the most enthusiastic flower fan into a bouquet-burying pessimist.
There are a few ways to keep your fresh cut hydrangeas from wilting in a vase and dazzling for weeks on end. Both are incredibly easy to do and you’ll be surprised at how well they improve the longevity of the flowers.
And if your cut hydrangeas already wilted? I got you. Check out the end of this post to learn how to revive hydrangea flowers.
(Posts on stacyling.com may contain affiliate links. Click HERE for full disclosure.)
How to Keep Cut Hydrangeas Alive in a Vase
Hydrangeas are popular flowers that can add a beautiful touch to any room. However, they can be tricky to keep alive in a vase. I’ve been growing and cutting hydrangeas for many years and they don’t always do well in a vase without a little help. So follow these simple tips and tricks to help keep fresh-cut hydrangeas from wilting in a bouquet.
But First…Why Are My Fresh Cut Hydrangeas Wilting?
It’s important to understand why fresh cut hydrangeas wilt when they are in a vase. And the reason is, 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. Luckily, there are two easy fixes for this. Because with proper hydrangea care, the flowers can last a long time in an arrangement.
How to Keep Fresh Cut Hydrangeas from Wilting
Whether you cut hydrangeas from your flower garden or pick them up from the grocery store, there are two easy methods to keep cut hydrangeas from wilting. And the best part? Minimal supplies are required.
Supplies Needed for Keeping Fresh-Cut Hydrangeas From Wilting
- Pruners
- Container filled with fresh water for the initial fresh cuts
- A second container filled with fresh water to display the arrangement
- Alum Spice (if using the alum method)
- Small pot filled with boiling hot water (if using the hot water method only)
1. Keeping Hydrangeas Fresh Using the Hot Water Method
To me, this is the easier way to do it because you don’t need anything else besides sharp pruners and boiling hot water. Here’s how to do it.
Hot Water Method Directions
- After the initial cuts are made, boil water.
- Have a 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.
And that’s it! Super easy right? Ok, so that’s the hot water method. Here’s how to do the alum method.
2. How to Keep Fresh Cut Hydrangeas from Drooping Using Alum Powder Method
Have you ever heard or used alum before? Alum powder 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?
Alum Spice Method Directions
- 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.
Pro Tip: Avoid dipping hydrangea stems directly in the alum spice jar. Instead, dump some alum into a smaller jar. This will keep your main alum spice jar fresh and help avoid bacterial growth that can contaminate later cut stems.
Emergency Care: How Do You Save Cut Hydrangeas After They Wilt in a Vase
If your fresh cut flowers started wilting in an arrangement, I got you! All is not lost because there’s a trick to reviving hydrangeas after they wilt. Here’s what you need to know.
- If the arrangement’s water is more than a day old, dump it and add fresh water before reviving it.
- 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!
Hydrangea Flower Arranging Tip: Whenever I arrange mophead hydrangeas, I love to mix the colors up a little for some contrast.
Cut Hydrangea Care: How to Cut and Care for the Flowers
If you are cutting hydrangeas from your flower garden, it’s important to understand how to cut the blooms before arranging the flowers in a vase. Here’s what you need to know to prepare them for life in a bouquet.
- Gather supplies.
- Clean pruners before making cuts.
- Tip: it’s best to cut hydrangeas in the early am while the weather is cool.
- Cut stems at an angle.
- Immediately drop fresh cuts into a container of fresh water.
- Choose and follow one of the above methods before arranging.
Fresh Cut Hydrangea Care FAQs
If you cut your hydrangeas from your garden, here are a few FAQs with answers that will help you care for the flowers.
Do You Put Cut Hydrangeas in the Water Immediately After Cutting?
Yes. It’s really important to get fresh cut hydrangeas in water immediately after cutting them so they continue to take in water. Dropping cut hydrangeas immediately into water after cutting will help keep them from wilting. So when you head out to the garden to cut hydrangea flowers, make sure you bring a large bucket of water with you.
Note: As soon as you cut, drop the hydrangea stem in that bucket of water to help keep them fresh and prevent the droop.
What Is the Best Time of Day to Cut Hydrangeas?
Believe it or not, the time of day when you cut hydrangeas is equally as important as putting them in water after cutting them to help keep them fresher for longer in a vase. The best time of day to cut hydrangeas is in the morning when the weather is much cooler.
Now that doesn’t mean you can’t cut later in the day, because you can if you had to. But it’s a good idea to avoid cutting in the heat of the day. The flowers last longer when cut in the morning, so I recommend aiming for that timeframe.
How Long Do Cut Hydrangeas Last Once Cut?
I’ve read 2-5 days, but from my experience, they last much longer than that. When I cut hydrangea flowers in the morning and used one of these two methods, they lasted over a week. I even tested out both ways to see if one lasted longer. From my experiment, the alum method for fresh cut hydrangea care helped the flowers last a little bit longer than the hot water method.
How to Keep Fresh Cut Hydrangeas Looking Fresher for Longer
I wish fresh flowers lasted longer but sometimes, they just don’t. However, there are ways to extend the life of a bouquet. It’s not hard to do and worth the few extra steps to help them last. Follow these tips to learn how to keep fresh flower arrangments longer.
Want to Learn How to Arrange Hydrangea Flowers Like a Pro
Now that you’ve got your fresh-cut hydrangeas, how do you want to arrange them? It’s not hard to arrange your own bouquet or centerpiece and you can save a lot of money doing it yourself. Click here to learn my best tips for arranging flowers.
Final Thoughts About Keeping Cut Hydrangeas from Wilting
The longest I got out of my hydrangea flowers was two weeks. I hope you found this post helpful in fixing 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. If you tried both, which method works best for you? I would love to know more in the comments below.
Since using these techniques, I haven’t had trouble with fresh-cut hydrangeas again. So now there are more blooms to enjoy indoors! Have you tried either method yet? Let’s chat more about it in the comments below.
For more information about keeping diffferent cut hydrangeas fresh, read this article from Rutgers Cooperative Extension.
Thank you for visiting the blog today!
Enjoy your day! xo
More About Growing Hydrangeas
- The Complete Guide to Hydrangea Care and Their Flowers
- The Basics of Hydrangea Care
- How to Dry a Hydrangea the Easy Way
- How to Divide Hydrangeas
- 7 Easy Steps to Propagating Hydrangeas
- Why Aren’t My Hydrangeas Blooming?
- Why Aren’t My Hydrangeas Blooming – Update?
- Are Hydrangeas Deer Resistant?
- How to Prune Hydrangeas
- How to Make a Hydrangea Wreath for Free
