Hydrangeas have to be the most beautiful flowers of the flower world, known for their sultry pastel pallete colours and full bloom, it’s at no surprise these fluffy flowers need a lot of attention.
They can turn a boring green hedge into something spectacular adding vibrancy and personality to its charm. The good thing about these flowers is that in any condition they can be revitalised and look amazing when cut in a vase.
Hydrangeas have many unique characteristics and bloom in a variety of colours, so there’s guaranteed to be one that suits your garden aesthetic. You can choose from a variety of whites, greens, purples, pinks, blues and even variegated options.
Hydrangeas like plenty of water, so a summer watering schedule is recommended. They also benefit from mulching. Removing spent blooms is widely encouraged to stimulate more flowers, too. Gardeners looking for a no-maintenance alternative may prefer an “elegant shrub” that rivals the showy blooms of hydrangeas.
There is a 30 second hack that will bring your cut flowers back to life following these simple steps.
Sometimes, cut hydrangea flowers seem to wilt quickly. But don’t throw them out just yet! Instead, try snipping the stem ends and submerging any sad-looking hydrangeas in room-temperature water for half an hour (or longer if needed to rehydrate the blooms completely).
This trick works because hydrangea flowers have the unique ability to absorb water through their petals. This characteristic is also why misting the blooms lightly with water each day helps keep them fresh longer.
Another trick for reviving wilted hydrangeas is to pour boiling water into a container and plunge the stem ends in it for about 30 seconds. Then place the stems into a vase of cool water. In a little while, your flowers will perk up.
Once your hydrangeas are restored to their former glory, you can keep your cut flowers fresh for as long as possible by changing the vase water every other day and giving the stems a fresh cut at an angle just before returning them to the vase.
If you have any alum in your spice cabinet, some people like to dip the freshly cut stems into this common pickling ingredient, which helps keep bacteria from clogging up the stems.
Another great way of keeping your flowers for longer for a nice floral arrangment is when they are dry, they have a nice appearence that will compliment a centre piece on the table or in a dry vase for display. This way you can still keep its beauty even though its appearence has changed slightly.
Hydrangea flowers are a cinch to air-dry. First, cut the blooms off the plant when the petals start feeling a little papery.
Then, remove all leaves and hang the stems upside down in a warm, well-ventilated spot out of bright light until the flowers are dry. You can also set the blooms in a vase of water and leave them until the water and the flowers dry up over time.
Hydrangea flowers also will dry naturally on the plant, so you can wait to cut them until they’ve completely dried. Once dried, the papery flowers can last indefinitely, especially if spray-painted for more intense color. Use dried hydrangeas in floral arrangements or attach them to wreaths with floral wire.