Hydrangeas Clipped And Brought Inside?

Martha Stewart shares a genius hydrangea cutting trick to make them last longer in a vase. To revive wilted hydrangeas, remove them from your arrangement and re-cut the stems on a 45-degree angle. Make a vertical slit in the incision and hold the stem upright in boiling water for about 60 seconds. Place the hydrangeas back in your floral arrangement and they should revive themselves in an hour or so.

To keep cut hydrangeas from wilting, take each stem and dip the cut end into boiling water for about 30 seconds. This brief exposure to the high temperature helps break down and dissolve the sap. Then, place the stems into a vase or container filled with room temperature water so the hydrangea will not get too stressed.

To dry hydrangeas, place the cut stems in a vase or pitcher with no water, ensuring they are not too crowded and will get plenty of air-flow. Start by using clean, sharp shears, then make your cut. Cut stems above a node and include at least two leaf groups on the cut stem. Bring a kettle or pot of water to a boil and set aside to cool slightly. Place the hydrangeas on the cutting board and use the sharp knife to trim an inch off the ends of the stems.

To revive hydrangeas, trim an inch off the ends of the stems and submerge them in a bucket, bowl, or sink filled with cool water. Dropping cut hydrangeas immediately into water after cutting will help keep them from wilting. When you head out to the garden to cut hydrangeas, cut the stem on an angle and cut into the slanted edge with little short slits vertically a few times.