Peony season is here! And I may be a little too excited about it. You can find peonies almost anywhere now. My favorite peonies are from the Union Square Farmer’s Market. They are just so special! But it is hard to spend the extra cash for those “just for fun” occasions. Especially since you can find pink peonies at Trader Joe’s for just $7.99/five stems. Peonies can be a little intimidating. But I am going to share everything you need to know to make your peonies last for 10 days.
I love having flowers in my house. But I will admit… I didn’t know a whole ton about how to care for flowers prior to this year. When I got the most incredible flowers for my thirtieth birthday, I did a ton of research! Now every time I get new flowers, I follow the same steps, with a few tweaks depending on the type. Everything you need to know to make your peonies last for 10 days can be used on almost any flower!
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Choose Your Stems
Let’s start with the basics. When you choose your peonies at the store, know going in what you are getting. I know that when I get flowers from the farmers market, they are MUCH fresher than what you can find in a grocery store or flower shop. The fresher the flower, the longer it is going to last in your home.
When picking out your stems, look for tight, closed buds that haven’t started to open. Give the buds a gentle squeeze. You are looking for one that feels like a marshmallow. This means it is just about to open! If they are too tight ant hard when cut, they may not open. Peonies have a sturdy stem and look wonderful in a large vase. I like to keep them in a tighter, taller vase until they start to flower.
Give Them a Trim
Get your shears ready and make sure they are clean. You are going to want to cut the stems to be about 14″ or so. Cut on a sharp diagonal. I had no idea the reason that florists did this, but I learned that it is to give the stem the largest hole possible for maximum water absorption. Remove any leaves that are lower on the stem and may be submerged in water. Be sure to leave one to three parts of leaves connected to the stem.
Add your stems to your vase. You want to be sure the water is tepid, room temperature water so the peonies aren’t shocked. You may need to go back in and trim your stems a bit more. Keep a few longer ones to stand straight in the middle.
Aftercare
You can definitely get them to last for at least a week. But to make your peonies last for 10 days, place your vase in a spot that doesn’t get much direct sunlight. Indirect light is wonderful and helps the blossoms come out without getting over heated or singed.
Empty and clean your vase daily to reduce bacteria growth on the flowers. Recut the stems at a sharp diagonal every other day. As the flowers bloom and move past their prime, remove them from the arrangement to preserve the rest. Change vases as necessary.
Peonies are so soft and gorgeous. I love to separate them out into smaller, three or four stem arrangements as they get large and fluffy. They brighten up any corner and fill the whole room with a soft, fresh scent.
What is your favorite flower? Do you treat yourself to flowers from time to time?
