Cut hydrangeas · big blooms that drink a lot
Hydrangeas are the big, cloud-like blooms in blue, white, pink, green and antique shades. They are beautiful and generous, and they are the thirstiest flower we sell. Keep them drinking and they will stay full for about a week.
A hydrangea head is hundreds of small florets, and every one of them loses water through its petals. That is why a hydrangea can look perfect in the morning and droop by afternoon in a warm room. The good news is that a wilted head can almost always be brought back.
Never let the water drop
Check the vase every day and fill it to the top. Hydrangeas drink fast, and a vase that was full yesterday can be half empty today. The stems should always sit deep in water.
If a head starts to droop, don’t throw it out. Give it a soak (see below). Nine times out of ten it is just thirsty and comes right back.
When your flowers arrive
- Fill a clean vase with cool water and flower food before you unwrap anything.
- Cut about an inch off each stem at an angle with a sharp knife or clippers. Hydrangea stems are woody, so a clean cut matters.
- Get the stems into the water within a minute of cutting.
- Pull off any leaves that would sit below the water line.
- Mist the blooms lightly with cool water if the room is warm.
Where to put them
Cool and out of the sun is the whole secret. Warm air wilts a hydrangea faster than anything.
- Choose the coolest room you have, out of direct sun.
- Keep them away from heat vents, the stove, sunny windows and the top of the TV or fridge.
- In an eastern North Carolina summer, keep them well away from a hot window, and inside in the air conditioning.
- At night, a cooler room or a spot near a cold window (not touching it) helps them last.
Everyday care
Cut Hydrangeas
Hydrangea macrophylla
- Vase life
- Usually five to seven days, sometimes longer in a cool room.
- Water
- Fill the vase to the top every day. Change the water completely every two days.
- Stems
- Re-cut an inch off at an angle every two or three days, and get them straight back into water.
- Flower food
- Use the packet if one came with them, mixed into fresh water.
- Temperature
- As cool as is comfortable. Below 70°F they last noticeably longer.
- Watch for
- A head that goes soft and droopy. That is thirst, and a soak fixes it.
Hydrangeas can cause vomiting and an upset stomach in cats and dogs if chewed. Keep the vase out of reach. If any part is eaten, call your veterinarian.
Reviving a wilted hydrangea
Hydrangeas can take in water through their petals as well as their stems, which is why this works so well:
- Fill a sink or a bowl with cool water.
- Re-cut the stem by an inch.
- Lay the whole bloom face down in the water and let it soak for 30 to 60 minutes. A badly wilted head can stay in for a few hours.
- Lift it out, give it a gentle shake, re-cut the stem and put it back in a full vase.
- If the head still won’t perk up after a long soak, the stem may be blocked. Cut another inch off and try once more.
Drying hydrangeas to keep
Hydrangeas dry beautifully. Near the end of their vase life, when the florets start to feel papery, take them out of the water, or leave them in a vase with just an inch of water and let it evaporate. Keep them out of sun so the color fades slowly. They will keep for months.
Quick fixes
Whole head drooping
Thirst. Give it the face-down soak above, re-cut the stem and fill the vase.
Wilts again a day after reviving
The room is too warm or the stem is blocked. Re-cut an inch and move it somewhere cooler.
Edges of the florets turning brown
Dry, warm air or sun. Mist the blooms and move the vase out of the light.
Cloudy, smelly water
Change it right away, wash the vase and re-cut the stems.
Petals feel papery
It is starting to dry. Enjoy it in the vase, or let it finish drying to keep.
Color fading
Normal over time, especially in bright light. A darker, cooler spot slows it.
Common questions
Why do my cut hydrangeas keep wilting?
They lose water through their petals quickly, especially in a warm room. Keep the vase full, re-cut the stems every few days and keep them cool.
How do you revive a wilted hydrangea?
Re-cut the stem and lay the whole bloom face down in cool water for 30 to 60 minutes, then put it back in a full vase.
How long do cut hydrangeas last?
About five to seven days in a cool room with fresh water.
Should I put boiling water on hydrangea stems?
Some florists dip the cut stem end in very hot water for about 30 seconds to help it drink. It can help a stubborn stem, but a fresh cut and a deep soak usually do the job without the risk of a burn.
Can I dry cut hydrangeas?
Yes. Let them dry slowly out of the sun once the florets turn papery, and they will keep for months.
More flower care guides
Vase Arrangements
Fresh flowers in water
Fresh water every other day, a fresh cut on the stems, and a cool spot out of the sun.
Read the guide →Peonies
Paeonia
Tight buds open into huge blooms. Warm water to open them, a cool room to slow them down.
Read the guide →Potted Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
The thirstiest plant we send. Water daily, keep it cool, and plant it in morning sun.
Read the guide →About pets and plants: The pet notes in this guide are general plant knowledge from our florists, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet chews or swallows any part of a plant, contact a licensed veterinarian right away, or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. If a person swallows any part of a plant, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”1 Corinthians 3:7
Questions about your plant?
Call or text us. We are always glad to help, whether you bought it from us or not.
Call or text (984) 250-7771 Clayton Florist · 11440 Clayton Blvd, Clayton, NC 27520claytonncflorist.com