Late summer blooms allow you to soak up the last few weeks of warm weather, and hydrangeas are some of the most popular flowers this time of year. If you spend time exploring the lush landscapes of the Pacific Northwest or coastal East Coast enclaves such as Nantucket and the Hamptons, you’ll see bushes of…
While cut hydrangeas can last for a week or more with proper care, they sometimes start to wilt just a few hours after being placed in a vase. When trimmed, the woody stems ooze sap that can clog the plant’s water-absorbing vessels, causing the flower heads to droop. If this happens to you, don’t lose hope — a soak in hot water can bring your sad-looking hydrangeas back to life.
The Hot Water Hydrangea Hack
Dunking wilted flowers in hot water might seem like a death sentence, but it’s a surprisingly effective trick for drooping hydrangeas. The hot water helps unclog the stems, allowing the flower heads and other parts of the plant to soak up some hydration.
To revive wilted hydrangeas, start by giving the stems a fresh cut. Then, pour hot tap water (between 100 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit) into a large bowl. If you have a lot of blooms, you can also plug your kitchen sink and fill it with hot water. Submerge the cut hydrangeas (flowers, leaves, stems, and all) in the hot water and let them soak for around 40 minutes. These incredible blooms can absorb water through their petals and leaves (not just their stems), so they’ll perk back up in no time, looking freshly cut and ready for more summer days.
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Bonus Hack
If giving your hydrangeas a bath sounds like a lot of work, you can achieve similar results by boiling some water, pouring it into a heat-safe container, and letting the freshly cut stems soak for about two hours as the water cools. You may notice some discoloration on the stems afterward, but it won’t matter if you’re displaying them in a solid-color vase. Alternatively, you can use alum powder (found in the spice aisle of most grocery stores) to keep the blooms looking perky. Give the stems a quick trim, then dip the ends (up to 1 inch) into the white powder before returning them to a vase filled with fresh water.
