Cut hydrangeas are one of the most beautiful flowers to bring indoors, but they can wilt quickly if they are not prepared the right way. With a few simple steps, including removing the lower leaves, cutting the stems at an angle, and dipping them in alum, hydrangeas can stay fresh and beautiful for a week or longer.
These tips work for both grocery store hydrangeas and mature blooms cut from the garden. Whether you arrange them in a favorite pitcher or place a few stems in a simple vase, hydrangeas add a fresh and timeless touch to any room.
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Remove The Lower Leaves
The first thing to do is snip off most of the leaves below the bloom. Leaves are moisture suckers, and they muddy the water in your container. It’s fine to leave a few leaves for interest, but make sure they are as close to the bloom as possible.
Cut The Stems At An Angle
- In order to get the maximum amount of water to the bloom, the stems need a sharp, long cut.
- First, decide on your desired length for the stems.
- Using a knife or very sharp scissors, cut the stem at an angle (not a straight cut) that is as long as you can make it.
- If you use a knife, hold the stem down firmly with a few fingers to make the diagonal cut easier. It’s important to have a sharp knife because hydrangea stems are quite tough.
- I use these shears, and can achieve a clean, angled cut. This method works just as well on garden hydrangeas as long as they are mature. It’s hard to get a good slice on a thin, young hydrangea stem.
Dip the Stems in Alum Powder
The easiest thing to do is to pick up a jar of alum at the grocery store (in the spice aisle) and keep it on hand for your cut hydrangeas. As you cut the stems, dip them quickly into the alum jar, and then plunge them into a container of room temperature water. Once you dip a stem in the jar, clearly you can’t use it for anything else!
Change the water after a few days
After you have enjoyed your hydrangea arrangement for a few days, dump out the old water and fill your vessel with fresh, cool water. At the same time, give the stems a fresh cut. This will prolong the life of your blooms, and your enjoyment.
Keep Hydrangeas Out of Direct Sunlight
Place your vase of hydrangeas in a spot that does not receive direct sunlight. The sunlight dries out the blooms, and they tend to wilt faster
How To Revive Wilted Hydrangeas
Sometimes, even when you do everything right, hydrangea blooms will wilt. A revival process that may save them begins with filling your kitchen sink with cool water. Plunge the blooms into the water, and let them sit for 30 minutes. I promise they will be OK! When finished, shake off the excess water, and start arranging. Hydrangeas absorb water not only through the stem, but through the petals as well.
Tips For Arranging Hydrangea Bouquets
- Hydrangeas are often full enough to stand alone in a pitcher or vase. If your blooms are smaller than usual, add a few stems of eucalyptus or other greenery to create a fuller arrangement.
- If freshly cut hydrangeas begin to wilt, place the stripped stems in very hot (but not boiling) water and let the water cool completely before arranging them in fresh water. This simple trick can often revive drooping blooms.
- For the longest vase life, keep your arrangement away from direct sunlight, heating vents, and drafts. A cool spot will help the flowers stay fresh and beautiful longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have hydrangeas blooming in your garden, I hope you cut a few stems and bring them indoors to enjoy. And if you don’t have bushes of your own, a simple grocery store bouquet can brighten your home just as beautifully.
If you’d like to grow your own blooms, be sure to see my guide to limelight hydrangeas, where I share practical tips for planting, pruning, and caring for these dependable shrubs year after year. Later in the season, when the blooms become papery and begin to turn pink, they can also be used to make a dried hydrangea wreath for your front door or indoor decor.
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Never knew about alum being used for cut flowers! This is why I love your blog. Thanks for doing what you do…
Love all your hydrangea tips! I follow them diligently and you are spot on. Thank you. Love your blue and white vase. Also for those that live near a Trader Joe’s they too have lovely hydrangea bunches.
Thank you I learned something new today
Hi Anne,
What a great post! I thought I would share what I have been doing the last few years with my hydrangeas. I live in Columbus, Ohio. My hydrangeas are on the side of the garage & do not get sunlight till afternoon. Opposite of what you think it should be. I wish I could remember what we did to the soil before planting them. I have an Endless Summer which was a monster last year & looks to be even bigger this year & just starting to bloom. I forget what my other 2 are. I need to look them up. One has multi-colored blooms & the other is kind of strawberry colored. They are much smaller but have only been planted 2 & 3 yr’s ago. I used Miracle Grow Bloom Booster for years & loved it. But a few years ago I was in Amish country in Ohio & stopped at a nursery to browse & asked for some, I was told they did not like it. They said it was missing some ingredients they like. They used a product called Jack’s. It is a 20-20-20 mixture. I have been using it ever since & it is wonderful! I can get it t my local nursery. I also periodically use an aluminum sulfate mixture around the perimeter of my Endless Summer to keep the blue-purple color which I adore. I can tell when it needs more as the color starts to get lighter but I get the most interesting shades! I get throat divine bouquets! Last year for th first time I managed to cut some blooms to dry at the right time which I never seem to be able to do. I still have 2 that are small but I love them knowing they are mine. ???? I want a Limelight so bad but don’t know where I would put it. I will post a photo to my Instagram this week of what they look like right now & also what I bought recently for the color, it is a different product for me this year. I assume it is a mixture that has aluminum sulfate in it. I bought it at my local nursery. I also want to try rooting some cuttings high sounds very simple to do. I could have a yard full of hydrangeas! Look for me @quiltsick on Instagram. Sorry for the long post!
I need to get some alum. I’ve read this before but haven’t tried it. I also have not made it a point to cut off the leaves so if that helps then I’m all for it. Thanks for the tips!
Wish i had this posting earlier My Hydrangeas have been blooming for about a month. Thanks for the tip because they are still blooming so the ones I cut now will last a lot longer!!!! Keep the good post coming love your articles. Regina
Out here in Southern California, my hydrangeas are in full-tilt-boogie-bloom! Just the other day, I cut 4 of them and put them out for display. I did remove all leaves below the water line, but did NOT know about cutting the stem at an angle, or dipping them in alum. Will definitely add these 2 steps – thank you so much for this info! Pinning!
Thank you! Your emails are a bit of sunshine!
I am so grateful for this post. Now I’ll have the gumption to cut one bloom from my beautiful hydrangea that was a mother’s day gift from two years ago, and enjoy seeing it inside my home. Yes, I’ll start with only one to be sure it works for me as this plant is my treasured favorite.
Thanks for the tips! Love that blue and white striped vase!