A bouquet of big, beautifulpeoniesalways brightens up a room.
Get Peonies at the Bud Stage
Buy or harvest peonies while the flowers are still in bud form.
Buds aren’t always pretty, and slight deformitieslike little brown spotsare normal.
Credit: Anthony Masterson
If you are cutting peonies from your garden, head out in the morning to look for buds.
Feed Your Cut Flowers
To stay fresh longer, cut flowers need flower food.
This will mimic the sugar rush that occurs during photosynthesis, helping to keep the flowers fresh.
Credit: Blaine Moats
There is another trick that takes this a step further.
Ants and peonies have an especially notorious relationship.
The insects are attracted to nectar that the buds release as they open.
Cut Stems at an Angle
For maximum water absorption, cut your peony stems at an angle.
This trick increases the surface area of the cut, helping the blooms absorb more water and nutrients.
Do this every other day to help remove any clogs at the base of the stems.
In warm weather, repeat the process even more often.
This will get rid of any bacteria that have built up in the vase and keep your peonies healthy.
It’s the day before your party, and the buds have yet to bloomwhat do you do?
To speed up the process, trim the stems and put them directly into warm water.
Put the vase with the flowers in a warm place in direct sunlight and check on them periodically.
Once they start opening, you could move them to wherever you’d like them to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Peonies, which are herbaceous perennials, bloom in late spring and early summer.
However, the plants typically only flower for about seven to ten days.
In a bouquet, the flowers usually look their best for around five days.
If a peony bud doesn’t open after a few days, check it for sticky sap.
You should also keep them away from drafts, heat, and fresh fruit to help them last longer.
