There’s nothing better than having your own homegrown, fresh-cut Hydrangea stems in a vase where you can see them often. After all, we put work into these flowering bushes to dress up the outdoors, why not bring them indoors as well? But what’s the most effective way to cut Hydrangea blooms from your bushes for a vase or arrangement?
To cut Hydrangea blooms for a vase, you’ll need to water the plant the day before and cut the stems the next morning. Make your cut straight across the stem just above a leaf node. Then strip the leaves from the stem, recut it at an angle, and create a vertical slit from the base. Place it into a bucket of lukewarm water right away.
Learning to create a gorgeous cut flower arrangement from Hydrangea plants is not hard. But knowing the best time to take your cuttings, how to choose and cut the blooms properly, and how to condition them for a vase or arrangement can make a big difference. Keep reading as I’ll explain all that and more.
How To Cut Hydrangea Blooms
Cutting Hydrangea blooms is not as hard as you might think, but it does require a few specific steps to get the best results. Thankfully, they are simple and easy to learn!
You’ll want to start with a well-hydrated plant. If it hasn’t rained recently, water the plant at the ground level the day before you intend to cut blooms from your Hydrangea. Then do your bloom cutting in the early morning the next day.
Pick the perfect bloom to cut by choosing it at the right stage on the plant, as it will not continue to mature once cut. Choose only the fully open and mature blooms at full color. The older the bloom, the longer it will last in the vase. Immature blooms will always wilt.
To cut the blooms properly, always cut between the nodes (the locations along the stem where the leaves come out.) Cut off the stem in a straight cut to allow the plant to recover in the fastest manner, and strip all the leaves. Now recut the stem at an angle, then cut a vertical slit in the stem to open its vascular system and allow it to take up the most water possible.
Immediately place the stem into a bucket of lukewarm water mixed at the proper ratio with cut flower food. Bring the stems inside and condition them by leaving them in the water for a few hours before arranging them. Just after conditioning the blooms, recut them and dip the stem ends in alum. (Alum is a pickling agent found in the spice section of most grocery stores.)
How to Extend the Vase Life of Hydrangea Blooms
Everyone loves a pretty bouquet. By following two basic steps, you can ensure that your bouquet lasts as long as possible: Change the water every other day and give the stems a fresh angled cut and a vertical slit at the base each time to ensure water uptake.
If you have Hydrangea cuttings that are already beginning to wilt, there’s hope for them too! To refresh wilting hydrangea stems, there are two methods–the water bath and the boiling water method.
For the water bath method, dip the flowerhead itself in water and leave for 30 minutes, then remove it, gently shake the water off and let it air dry.
For the boiling water method, boil water and pour it into a vase or mug. Then, recut the stem at an angle (and include a vertical slit) and plunge the stem into a couple of inches of hot water. By the time the water cools, the flowerhead will have rehydrated itself and be fully perked up. Be sure not to place too many wilted flowerheads together into one vessel of boiling water. The steam needs to be able to escape without damaging the flowerheads, so don’t crowd them.
Other Cut Flowers to Use in Your Hydrangea Arrangements
You can enjoy beautiful Hydrangea stems all on their own, but there are many complimentary flowers and foliage you can pair with the cut Hydrangea blooms. Here are some combinations we think you’ll love.
For the Country Wedding Look
Palest blue hydrangeas, white roses, and long stems of eucalyptus in blue mason jars
For a Relaxed Boho Look
Pink hydrangeas, ivory dahlias, and blue salvia with trailing ivy
Blue hydrangeas paired with upright curling green grapevines
Variegated weigela, Annabella hydrangea, and tall sprigs of mint
For a Monochromatic Arrangement
Lime green and white hydrangeas, green roses, star of Bethlehem, ‘Green Mist’ Queen Anne’s lace, hypericum berries, and magnolia leaves
White Hydrangea, green draping amaranthus, and bells of Ireland
For a Formal Look
Pair several white hydrangeas with dark woody stems towering above them in crystal vases
How to Dry Hydrangea Blooms for Long Lasting Arrangements
When cutting flowers for drying, you will want to know a few things. The most important thing is to wait until the blooms have started to dry out on the plant, which will usually happen sometime between August and October, depending on where you live.
When the blooms begin to take on their autumn color, you’ll also notice they look a little more dry and papery. Some people describe this as taking on a vintage look. Once this happens, you’ll know it’s the right time to cut them for drying.
After you cut, there are a couple of ways to dry your blooms. The first is to hang them upside down in a dry, cool place. This works particularly well if the stems are weak and thin.
Another way is to place them loosely in vases with a couple of inches of water, so they can take it up naturally as they dry. You don’t need to replace this water. It’s just there to allow the cut stems to dry slowly without wilting. Don’t crowd them together as they need air circulating all around them to dry properly.
No matter which method you choose, be sure to keep your drying stems out of direct sunlight for two to three weeks, and you’ll have a beautiful dried flower bouquet that will last a long time.
Do Hydrangeas Bloom Again After Being Cut?
Standard varieties of Hydrangeas do not rebloom. No amount of feeding, pruning, or wishing will change this. What type of Hydrangea are you growing? Does it bloom on old growth or new growth?
The Bigleaf Hydrangeas and the Oakleaf Hydrangeas bloom on old wood, which means that cold weather is sometimes a problem. Next year’s blooms start in late summer and are vulnerable to freezing temperatures. Be careful how you cut these plants when taking the blooms for a vase. Count down about two leaf nodes and cut just above the node, so you aren’t pruning off next year’s buds.
The Panicle and Smooth Hydrangeas bloom on new wood and should be cut back in late winter. In fact, you can cut a Panicle Hydrangea anywhere, and it won’t affect next season’s blooms. That means you can go down three or four leaf nodes, again clipping the stem just above a node, and get a longer stem for your floral arrangement.
For more information on which Hydrangeas bloom on old wood vs. new wood and tips on cutting and pruning these different types of bushes, read this article.
The Best Hydrangeas for Cut Flowers
You might wonder which Hydrangea plant is best for producing cut flowers. The ideal flower for you will depend on where you live, as you’ll need to choose a variety that’s hardy in your growing zone. But here are some of the varieties that get rave reviews from cut flower growers around the country.
Macrophylla or Bigleaf Hydrangeas have a couple of varieties that are great for cut flowers, including “Endless Summer” (hardy in zones 4 to 9) and “Let’s Dance” (hardy in zones 5 to 9). All Bigleaf types do best in morning or dappled sunlight.
Paniculata or Panicle variety, “Limelight” (hardy in zones 3-9) is beautiful and a vigorous producer. Paniculatas are the only Hydrangeas that do well in full sun.
Arborescens or Smooth Hydrangea, winning varieties are “Annabelle” and its upgrade, “Incrediball” (hardy in zones 3 to 9). They are great cut flower producers. Smooth varieties do best in morning or dappled sunlight.
Quercifolia or Oakleaf Hydrangeas (hardy in zones 5 to 9) can grow over eight feet tall, so you may want to look for a more manageable five-foot variety like “Snow Queen” or “Alice.” They are truly a four-season plant with green spring foliage, summer blooms, fall color, and woody winter stems with peeling, ornamental bark. Oakleaf types do best in morning or dappled sunlight.
Putting It All Together
Hydrangea plants can bring so much pleasure and beauty. We all love to enjoy them in a landscape, and by following the steps above, we can enjoy them in vases throughout your home and office as well.
If you are looking for the perfect Hydrangeas for cut flowers, read through our suggestions above. Pick a variety that will grow well in your zone and in the type of sunlight you have available. Then, once your plant is established, follow our steps to bring those beautiful pompoms indoors to be enjoyed night and day!
