The hydrangeas that we planted in the front yard bloomed. And they are dandy indeed.
Look at that big beautiful head of blooms! And with such skinny little stems and an exotic flare, they are like the Eva Longoria of the flower world. I couldn’t wait to prune the ones that reached their peak to put in my kitchen.
Pruning apparently helps the soon-to-be-blooms flourish so hopefully there will be many more little Eva’s for my kitchen later. (Please Lord, make my garden grow…I know it sounds petty. Well, compared to natural disasters, plane crashes, PMS prayers and the occasional ‘please help me not kill my husband’ shoutout, yeah, some people might think it is unimportant. But my brown thumb really takes a toll on my self esteem and does a real number on the hope that one day I could possibly grow a human. Love you, thanks.)
So what I am really here to share with you is a quick tip on hydrangea cutting. You can prolong the life of your blooms by doing one simple step. Once you cut your hydrangeas to the desired length, dunk the end of the stems into boiling water for 30 seconds. This dunkage prevents the build up of a sticky substance that will clog the little sucker from, well, sucking. And after your flower take the boiled baptism, the blooms can be placed in your vase with room temperature water…just like normal!
So get ready to say goodbye to wilted hydrangeas, and HELLO to beautiful blooms for many days to follow. Happy pruning!
CUTE! I can’t wait til I have a home to plant some flowers… although I think I missed the green thumb gene, too.
Not sure if this is well known or not, but my g’ma taught me that once pretty blooms start to fade – for a quick pick-me-up (say guests are arriving and you didn’t realize they were dying…) add a few ice cubes into the vase and they’ll perk up for a little bit longer!
Ooohh Kylie – I can’t wait to try that! Anything to add a little green color to my thumb! Thanks a million!
XO – Katie
Ooohh Kylie – I can’t wait to try that! Anything to add a little green color to my thumb! Thanks a million!
XO – Katie
Oh I must plant some of those! They are gorgeous. I am planning on planting some squash and other veggies this weekend. I’ll have to add those to my list!
Oh I must plant some of those! They are gorgeous. I am planning on planting some squash and other veggies this weekend. I’ll have to add those to my list!
SO jealous! We just planted a peony bush and I keep telling it to “Grow, dammit, grow!” Which might or might not also be my child-rearing method when the time comes…..
Thanks for the tip, K. Oh and I hope God forgives me for LOL’ing at your little prayer.
SO jealous! We just planted a peony bush and I keep telling it to “Grow, dammit, grow!” Which might or might not also be my child-rearing method when the time comes…..
Thanks for the tip, K. Oh and I hope God forgives me for LOL’ing at your little prayer.
Those blue/purple are so, SO PRETTY! I actually got to take home a great hydrangea arrangement last night after a work event. (Love my job perks!) And one of the blooms was already looking a little wilty. I’ll have to try your boiling tip when I get home.
I’m hoping to plant some of those purple/blues later this season too. LOVE THEM.
Those blue/purple are so, SO PRETTY! I actually got to take home a great hydrangea arrangement last night after a work event. (Love my job perks!) And one of the blooms was already looking a little wilty. I’ll have to try your boiling tip when I get home.
I’m hoping to plant some of those purple/blues later this season too. LOVE THEM.
Those blue/purple are so, SO PRETTY! I actually got to take home a great hydrangea arrangement last night after a work event. (Love my job perks!) And one of the blooms was already looking a little wilty. I’ll have to try your boiling tip when I get home.
I’m hoping to plant some of those purple/blues later this season too. LOVE THEM.
Those blue/purple are so, SO PRETTY! I actually got to take home a great hydrangea arrangement last night after a work event. (Love my job perks!) And one of the blooms was already looking a little wilty. I’ll have to try your boiling tip when I get home.
I’m hoping to plant some of those purple/blues later this season too. LOVE THEM.
Those blue/purple are so, SO PRETTY! I actually got to take home a great hydrangea arrangement last night after a work event. (Love my job perks!) And one of the blooms was already looking a little wilty. I’ll have to try your boiling tip when I get home.
I’m hoping to plant some of those purple/blues later this season too. LOVE THEM.
Those blue/purple are so, SO PRETTY! I actually got to take home a great hydrangea arrangement last night after a work event. (Love my job perks!) And one of the blooms was already looking a little wilty. I’ll have to try your boiling tip when I get home.
I’m hoping to plant some of those purple/blues later this season too. LOVE THEM.
I love hydrangeas! That was the flower I used in all of my wedding bouquets. so beautiful!
For our anniversary, I have asked the hubs to get me a huge hydrangea bush to plant in the backyard!
I love hydrangeas! That was the flower I used in all of my wedding bouquets. so beautiful!
For our anniversary, I have asked the hubs to get me a huge hydrangea bush to plant in the backyard!
Beautiful! Hydrangeas were one of our wedding flowers AND part of the pattern on our dishes! Obviously, I love them. Yours look AMAZING! Thanks for the “dunkage” tip.
Beautiful! Hydrangeas were one of our wedding flowers AND part of the pattern on our dishes! Obviously, I love them. Yours look AMAZING! Thanks for the “dunkage” tip.
So lovely! Thanks for the boiling water tip, I’ll try that. I’m planning on drying some as well, for through-the-winter blooms.
So lovely! Thanks for the boiling water tip, I’ll try that. I’m planning on drying some as well, for through-the-winter blooms.
Hi Tamara – a free arrangement?!?you can color me jealous…
Oh and if you are planning on doing the little boiling trick on blooms that have already been soaking…recut them to be sure you get the best results.
Good luck all you hydrangea lovers!
XO – Katie
Hi Tamara – a free arrangement?!?you can color me jealous…
Oh and if you are planning on doing the little boiling trick on blooms that have already been soaking…recut them to be sure you get the best results.
Good luck all you hydrangea lovers!
XO – Katie
i super adore hydrangeas 🙂 those are beautiful!
i super adore hydrangeas 🙂 those are beautiful!
How did you get so smart? Love the tip!
How did you get so smart? Love the tip!
soo cute! Color is really vibrant too.
soo cute! Color is really vibrant too.
You are so welcome for the “shout out-” well deserved!! I didn’t have any luck finding a ladder on Craigslist today, I’m not giving up though. Hope that I find one soon.
You are so welcome for the “shout out-” well deserved!! I didn’t have any luck finding a ladder on Craigslist today, I’m not giving up though. Hope that I find one soon.
You are so welcome for the “shout out-” well deserved!! I didn’t have any luck finding a ladder on Craigslist today, I’m not giving up though. Hope that I find one soon.
You are so welcome for the “shout out-” well deserved!! I didn’t have any luck finding a ladder on Craigslist today, I’m not giving up though. Hope that I find one soon.
You are so welcome for the “shout out-” well deserved!! I didn’t have any luck finding a ladder on Craigslist today, I’m not giving up though. Hope that I find one soon.
You are so welcome for the “shout out-” well deserved!! I didn’t have any luck finding a ladder on Craigslist today, I’m not giving up though. Hope that I find one soon.
Ooh, those are so beautiful! I love hydrangeas!
Ooh, those are so beautiful! I love hydrangeas!
Wow one of my favorite flowers. We planted 4 of them in our backyard, but I haven’t had any bloom yet. Just a bunch of green leaves. Thanks for the tips though hopefully I get to use them once they bloom!
Wow one of my favorite flowers. We planted 4 of them in our backyard, but I haven’t had any bloom yet. Just a bunch of green leaves. Thanks for the tips though hopefully I get to use them once they bloom!
Nothing says southern gardens better than hydrangeas. So gorgeous! I have a several varieties and am looking forward to trying your boiling tips. Thanks!
Nothing says southern gardens better than hydrangeas. So gorgeous! I have a several varieties and am looking forward to trying your boiling tips. Thanks!
Great tip about boiling water. I didn’t know this at all.
My hydrangeas aren’t even close to blooming, but they are greening up. I cannot wait for them to get all bloomin’
Great tip about boiling water. I didn’t know this at all.
My hydrangeas aren’t even close to blooming, but they are greening up. I cannot wait for them to get all bloomin’
Your hydrangeas are so beautiful. I wish they came in a few more colors, as I am not fond of pink and blue 🙂
Will you keep us updated on how long they last?
Your hydrangeas are so beautiful. I wish they came in a few more colors, as I am not fond of pink and blue 🙂
Will you keep us updated on how long they last?
is it too late to plant hydrangeas right now? i live in MN and the summer heat is almost here (record high of 95 the other day!).
is it too late to plant hydrangeas right now? i live in MN and the summer heat is almost here (record high of 95 the other day!).
You betcha Kinigirl! I will definitely keep ya’ll updated on how long these suckers last 🙂
XO – Katie
You betcha Kinigirl! I will definitely keep ya’ll updated on how long these suckers last 🙂
XO – Katie
Hey Priscilla, Great question. I think that it is not too late – but make sure you are planting your new hydrangea in a place that is part shade part sun. And make sure to water it sufficiently – you don't want that 95 degree weather to roast the poor baby before it gets a chance to establish itself!
Good luck & Happy planting!
XO – Katie
Hey Priscilla, Great question. I think that it is not too late – but make sure you are planting your new hydrangea in a place that is part shade part sun. And make sure to water it sufficiently – you don't want that 95 degree weather to roast the poor baby before it gets a chance to establish itself!
Good luck & Happy planting!
XO – Katie
lovely!
I’ve never tried that, but I’m sure I will soon! You can also submerge the flower heads in water for a few hours if one starts to wilt. Apparently hydrangeas also absorb water on their flowers.
lovely!
I’ve never tried that, but I’m sure I will soon! You can also submerge the flower heads in water for a few hours if one starts to wilt. Apparently hydrangeas also absorb water on their flowers.
So pretty!
Hmmm-I’m a brown thumb too. Correction-black thumb. But I love hydrangeas (have several fakesies at home) so I’m very tempted to try them.
Are they a a semi-easy plant to maintain?
So pretty!
Hmmm-I’m a brown thumb too. Correction-black thumb. But I love hydrangeas (have several fakesies at home) so I’m very tempted to try them.
Are they a a semi-easy plant to maintain?
Thanks Jennifer for that tip – I will definitely have to try it if they are looking a little dehydrated!
Hi Alicia – I think that they are an easy plant to maintain because they are semi-shade, semi-sun. And in my yard – that’s all we have. Apparently they can get a little dried out…so I was sure to water them every other day for the first few weeks till they got their roots dug in. Besides that – I really haven’t paid them any attention. I guess neglect really toots their horn 🙂
Hope this helps!
XO – Katie
Thanks Jennifer for that tip – I will definitely have to try it if they are looking a little dehydrated!
Hi Alicia – I think that they are an easy plant to maintain because they are semi-shade, semi-sun. And in my yard – that’s all we have. Apparently they can get a little dried out…so I was sure to water them every other day for the first few weeks till they got their roots dug in. Besides that – I really haven’t paid them any attention. I guess neglect really toots their horn 🙂
Hope this helps!
XO – Katie
This is a great tip – I never knew! Those flowers are YUMMY.