How to care for your peonies
Peonies. Mesmerising, iconic, and gloriously unpredictable – we love ‘em. Peony season lasts from May to June, and it’s always a thrill waiting for these beauties to arrive. The first flush of peonies are called Coral Charms, followed by the deep reds (which we grow here in the UK) and the pink Sarah Bernhardt variety.
Because we send our peonies while their golf ball-sized buds are still closed, you get to watch them bloom over several days. It means they’re letterbox-friendly too. Given the right care and attention, fresh-cut peonies can last five days. And these peony care tips will help keep your peonies fresh for as long as possible. We’ve even got some extra tips on how to open up the buds faster (if you’re feeling impatient).
Our five fresh cut peonies care tips
You don’t need a green thumb to be able to properly care for your peonies. You just need to follow these easy tips
1. Give them a quick wipe
Sometimes, peonies can arrive with a little bit of sap on their buds. This can make it harder for them to open. But you can help loosen their petals by gently swiping a damp cloth across each bud.
2. Trim 3-5cm off their bases
Peonies use water to fluff themselves up. So, before you start arranging, grab some sharp shears to cut the stems down. You’ll want to trim about 3-5cm off to get rid of the dry ends (making it easier for your peonies to drink).
3. Remove the lower leaves
If you notice any leaves that’ll sit below the waterline, make sure you remove them. Any left on will cause nasty bacteria to build up, which may lead to your flowers wilting earlier than they should.
4. Pop them in a clean vase
Make sure your vase is sparkling clean before filling it with lukewarm water and placing the peonies in it. If the vase is dusty this will dirty the water and the flowers will drink up all the bacteria.
5. Keep an eye on them
Draughts and direct sunlight can dry out your blooms. So pop yours somewhere nice and shaded. And make sure you’re changing the vase water every few days too. Just like us, flowers love having something fresh to drink.
How to make your peonies open faster
Can’t wait for your peony buds to open up into big, fluffy flowers? We hear you. Whether you have a big event coming up or the anticipation is just too much, there are a few tricks you can use to get them to bloom faster.
1. Keep them warm
Filling up a vase with lukewarm (not hot) water and placing them in a warm room as soon as they arrive will do wonders in helping them bloom faster. Don’t forget to add your flower food to give them all the nutrients they need.
2. Give them a little massage
We know. This isn’t a tip you hear every day, but trust us. Giving the buds a little, gentle massage at the base (near where the petals join the stem) will stimulate the blooms, making them open up faster.
3. Cover them up
If all else fails, you could try covering up the peony bouquet with a plastic bag for a little while. We wouldn’t normally recommend covering up such pretty flowers. But, this does allow for their naturally-emitted gas to circulate, encouraging the flowers to bloom quicker.
Fancy treating yourself (or someone else) to some peonies? Take a look at our beautiful peony bouquets here. But be quick, peony season doesn’t last very long!
Visit our peonies flower journal for more info on how to arrange and care for your peony flowers, the meanings behind their colours, their history and why they make the dreamiest gift.