Known for producing vibrant blooms, peonies are a great way to add a pop of colour to your garden and home. But the flower’s season is extremely short, only lasting for a few months, from late April to mid-June.
Given their short blooming period, which is at its peak in May and June, it’s essential you get the most from your flowers and their dramatic petals. Compared to most flowers, peonies have a shorter vase life, only lasting about five days. But one expert has shared a few simple steps to get more from the exquisite flower. In-house florist at Interflora, Vicky Salmon, shared her methods for getting the most from peonies once they’re in bloom and how to care for them at home.
It often takes a few days for peonies to transform into a dramatic bloom if you’ve brought them from a shop or florist. They often arrive in bud form to ensure they last longer once taken home, but if you’re looking to speed up this process, Vicky recommends a few techniques to help.
You can tell how far the petals are from blooming by touching the flower head. If it’s firm to touch, it may take more “persuasion” to open, and it’s “best to leave it a day or so longer” before doing the following.
If the bud is soft to touch, you can encourage the blooming process by gently massaging the buds at the neck of the stem, before popping the flower heads in a little warm water. Make sure not to submerge them, Vicky said: “A quick and gentle dunk should do it.”
Trim the stems and position your peonies in a warm, sunny room, leaving them to bloom. Peonies are sun-loving plants, ideally getting at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight for optimal growth.
Once in bloom, to get “the most of their fleeting beauty”, ensure your peonies are placed in a clean vase with fresh water. Remove any foliage from below the water, as this allows stems to better absorb water. Stems should also be cut at an angle before being placed in the vase.
Extending their vase life requires a slightly different approach. Once peonies have been cut, it’s better to keep them out of direct sunlight as this can cause them to lose colour and petals prematurely.
Keeping them in a shady spot away from the sun and any draughts will help preserve your peonies, especially as draughts can cause excessive moisture loss, which leads to wilting.
Once you’ve found a spot for them in your home, trim the stems every two to three days and keep the water fresh and clean. Peonies are “thirsty flowers, so keep an eye on the water level daily and top up as needed”.