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Home » Recipes » Gardening

Last updated: Jun 3, 2021 by Melissa Riker · 173 Comments

The Secret to Long-Lasting Hydrangeas

How to keep cut hydrangeas from wilting-the simple florist's trick that can prevent and reverse wilting in hydrangea bouquets!

How to keep cut hydrangeas from wilting-the simple florist's trick that can prevent and reverse wilting in hydrangea bouquets!

A close up of a hydrangea with alum next to it to preserve the flower longer

I love hydrangeas.  Seriously, LOVE them.  The first thing I did last year when we moved in our house was plant five hydrangea bushes so I could have my own.  They haven't bloomed yet this year but I was super excited to see cut hydrangeas in my grocery store last week and snapped some up for my kitchen table.

A white vase of hydrangea flowers sitting on a wood table

How to Keep Hydrangeas from Wilting

Keeping cut hydrangeas used to be hit or miss for me-they'd either do great or wilt almost immediately in the vase.  I didn't know what was causing it or how to prevent it until I was given a helpful tip from the flower vendor at our local farmer's market last year. 

She told me that sometimes when you cut hydrangeas they form a sticky substance over the cut that prevents the flower from sucking water up through the stem (that's scientific terminology by the way, "sticky stuff" and "sucking water up," can't tell I was a Bio major can you?)

To prevent that "sticky stuff" from forming you need the secret ingredient-alum! (A common ingredient used for pickling, find it in the spice aisle.) 

When you are arranging your hydrangeas re-cut the stem  about an inch above the previous cut and immediately stick the bottom ½" of the stem in the alum to coat it, then arrange as usual.  It's easy and works! No more wilted hydrangea blooms!

Repeat the process any time you see them beginning to wilt and you can keep the hydrangeas from wilting for weeks!

A close up of white and light blue hydrangea flowers in a white vase

Do you love hydrangeas as much as I do? What are your favorite flowers?

Be sure to check out these other flower posts:

  • How to Arrange Grocery Store Flowers
  • How to Make Cut Roses Last Longer
  • How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh
  • How to Keep Tulips from Drooping

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  1. Margaret says

    June 22, 2022 at 2:47 pm

    I planted a hydrangeas one day and the next day it was wilting and all the flowers wilted a and died please help me..

    Reply
  2. Gail says

    June 17, 2021 at 11:05 am

    I have heard that you can use coffee granules to boost your hydrangea acid level. Do I scratch them into the soil dry from the container or should I perk them first? If I perk them first should I pour the cooking water also around my plants? This would be used only as a supplement to my Hydrangea fertilizer. Perhaps between feedings. Trying to use up 3 containers of frozen coffee granules that have reached their expiration dates.

    Reply
  3. Michele says

    February 18, 2021 at 8:45 am

    Hi I have 2 hydrangeas that I planted 7 years ago they have never bloomed again since planting them I get big beautiful foliage but no flowers what do I do to get them to flower

    Reply
    • Melissa Riker says

      February 20, 2021 at 3:18 pm

      do you cut them each year or leave them? do you know what kind they are? Certain types won't bloom if they are cut down in the winter. You can also try bone meal in the soil, or take your soil to get tested at your local extension office.

      Reply
    • Freda says

      April 16, 2021 at 5:51 pm

      Blooming is tied to Sunlight. It is nature’s food. Also, when you see green coming onto the hydrangea start fertilizing.

      Reply
    • Chelle W. says

      September 14, 2021 at 1:11 am

      Many Hydrangeas, those that bloom on old wood, set their buds in fall. If you trim them back too late in fall, or in the spring you risk trimming off the buds. I have noticed many more blooms since I became aware of this.

      Reply
    • Mvskoke Maiden says

      July 17, 2022 at 11:19 am

      Check your soil levels for nitrogen. A high nitrogen content will make beautiful green foliage but keep hydrangeas from blooming.

      Reply
  4. Shelly Peterson says

    September 09, 2020 at 1:03 pm

    This works so well, I cut hydrangeas for my daughters wedding. I cut them off of friends bushes and my own and dipped them in alum and put them in buckets of water. I took ten buckets of hydrangeas to my floris, which she used in boquets and arrangements and they all stayed beautiful for the wedding and reception. It saved me a whole lot of money!!

    Reply
    • Melissa Riker says

      September 09, 2020 at 7:07 pm

      Oh that makes me so happy to hear Shelly! So glad it was useful!

      Reply
  5. Suzie says

    May 01, 2020 at 8:41 am

    Stupid question but do you put them in water after or Whit no water

    Reply
    • Katherine Caperton says

      May 10, 2020 at 8:36 pm

      Do you put them in water after dipping in alum or not?

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        May 12, 2020 at 7:26 pm

        Yes, after the alum put the stems in water as normal.

        Reply
      • Remedios De Leon says

        July 09, 2020 at 7:59 am

        Do you keep hydrangea in water after dipping in alum?

        Reply
        • T says

          September 04, 2020 at 9:33 pm

          How do you change the color

          Reply
          • Melissa Riker says

            September 05, 2020 at 12:49 pm

            you have to change the pH of the soil: acidic soil, with a pH lower than 6.0, makes blue or lavender-blue hydrangea blooms. Alkaline soil, with a pH above 7.0, promotes pinks and reds. With a pH between 6 and 7, the blooms turn purple or bluish-pink. To lower your pH, add garden sulfur or aluminum sulfate to your soil. To raise the pH, use ground lime.

  6. Jean says

    October 05, 2019 at 10:11 pm

    Havr blue rangeas near north wall. Also pink in a sunnier spot.with shade. What I love is that they bloom for long period.

    Reply
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