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Preserving peonies for weeks or even months allows you to enjoy fresh blooming peonies during times of the year when they are out of season. This process is surprisingly simple and effective, ensuring you can savor peonies’ beauty long after their typical bloom time has passed.
Peonies are so beautiful; once you start growing them, you usually have bundles of blooms. The hard part is that you have a narrow window to cut peonies and bring them indoors! Most of us love to arrange fresh peonies in a bouquet to enjoy indoors and then discard or dry the peony bouquet to enjoy for a bit longer. However, with the right technique, you can make your peony flowers last for months, extending their beauty well into the fall months!
Follow these exact instructions for preserving peonies and you’ll be able to enjoy fresh blooms nearly all year round. Let’s dive into the step-by-step process to keep your peonies looking gorgeous for an extended period!
Best Types of Peonies To Preserve
Before you begin the process of preserving peonies, it is important to know which type of peonies are best for this process.
There are four main colors of peonies: white, light pink, red, and dark pink. I’ve found that light pink and dark pink peonies preserve better compared to lighter-colored varieties like pink or white, which can develop browning on the edges over time in the fridge. Darker-toned peonies, such as red and dark pink, are less affected by any browning that may occur.
Another important consideration is the stage of bloom when harvesting peonies for preservation. If the buds are too tightly closed and hard, they are less likely to open after being preserved. It’s important to snip the peony blooms when the petals are still closed but feel soft, almost like a marshmallow texture, when gently squeezed for the best results.
How to Preserve Fresh Peonies
Tools & Supplies
- Fresh Peonies
- Sharp gardening shears or scissors
- Roll of plastic wrap
- Sealable plastic bag or Ziplock bag
- Vase to Display Flowers
Gathering Your Peonies
- Cut the peony flowers at the optimal time! For this technique to work, you cannot use just any peony. The best peony for this technique is one that is still mostly closed but not tightly closed! When you feel the peony, it should feel like a marshmallow.
- Trim the peony stem to approximately 16 inches in length below the flower. Use sharp garden shears or a floral knife for a clean cut.
- Remove all leaves from the stem to prevent excess moisture loss and potential bacterial growth. Make sure the peony flower is clean of dirt and inspect for any insects, especially ants, which are attracted to peony buds.
** If you cannot immediately proceed with the rest of the process, place only the cut tips of the peony stems in a small amount of water to keep them hydrated without submerging the entire stem. Mold growth is promoted if a large part of the stem is wet or covered with dirt.
Prepare The Peonies
- Lay a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface. For a 16-inch peony, use approximately 20 inches of plastic wrap to ensure full coverage.
- Place the cleaned-up peonies on the plastic wrap. You can position them individually or arrange a few peonies going in opposite directions for a visually appealing layout.
- Place the wrapped-up peonies in a resealable plastic bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing the bag shut.
- Carefully roll the peonies up in the plastic wrap. The stem tips and blooms must be fully covered, and the flower must be completely sealed within the plastic wrap to prevent air exposure.
- Lay the bag of wrapped peony flowers horizontally in the refrigerator. This helps maintain the integrity of the flowers and prevents them from getting crushed or misshapen.
Reviving the Peonies
- Take the wrapped peonies out of the refrigerator when you’re ready to use them. Allow them to come to room temperature.
- Give each peony a clean trim by cutting approximately 2 inches off the bottom of the stem at a sharp angle. This helps the peony absorb water more efficiently.
- Place the trimmed peony in a clean vase filled with lukewarm water and flower food. Allow the peony to sit in the water and warm up to room temperature. Since it was closed when initially cut, it may take approximately 2 days for the peony to start opening up.
- Over the next few days, monitor the peonies as they begin to open and bloom. To keep them alive for longer, display them away from direct sunlight and drafts.
- Enjoy your peonies months later!
Deb’s Tips For Preserving Peonies
- If you are planning to use the peonies for a specific purpose, be aware that it will take the peonies a few days to open up after pulling them out of the fridge.
- Peonies usually bloom in mid-June in Alberta, Canada. I have been able to use this technique and revive peonies in late September.
- Please note to be sure the peonies are clean and free of bugs, or some peonies may become moldy.
- The longer you keep them in the fridge, the more likely they are to become brown or moldy before you use them. If you need peonies for a specific reason, such as a wedding, it is recommended that you wrap up extras!
I love fresh-cut flowers of any kind. Find out how I keep them from wilting with these homemade flower food hacks!
Questions About Preserving Peonies
Peony flowers are beautiful flowers to cut and place in a vase indoors. You can also use the air-drying method below to preserve them or try hang-drying them to enjoy as decor!
I love to snip a big bundle and immediately hang it to dry rather than putting it in water. They look so pretty when dried and will last as pretty decor all summer! Also, if you immediately hang them, the peony leaves will be preserved well, too!
Peony buds stored in a cool place in water will not open; however, bringing them to room temperature will cause them to open.
More Fresh Flowers
Are you looking for more tips on how to care for cut flowers? Make sure to check out these amazing guides and tutorials.
- How To Arrange A Lilac Bouquet
- How to Dry Roses and Rose Petals
- What To Make With Rose Petals – 5 Brilliant Uses
- How To Arrange Tulips In A Vase
- Lilac Bush Care Guide
I hope you enjoyed these tips all about preserving peonies! Let me know if you try this technique at home and how it works! Leave me a message in the comments below, and if you love it, please spread the word and share this post on your Pinterest or social channels! Happy Gardening!
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How to Preserve Peonies
Equipment
- Sharp garden shears or floral scissors
Materials
- Peonies any color will work!
- Plastic Wrap
- Sealable or Ziplock Bag
Instructions
Harvest The Peonies
- Select peony flowers that are still mostly closed but not tightly shut. When gently squeezed, the peony should feel soft, similar to a marshmallow. This stage ensures the peony will open beautifully after preservation.
- Use sharp garden shears or a floral knife to trim the peony stem to approximately 16 inches below the flower. Cut at a sharp angle to help with water absorption.
- Remove all leaves from the stem to prevent excess moisture loss and potential bacterial growth. Make sure the peony flower is clean of dirt and inspect for any insects, especially ants, which are attracted to peony buds.
Preserve The Peonies
- Lay a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface. For a 16-inch peony, use approximately 20 inches of plastic wrap to have full coverage.
- Place the cleaned-up peonies on the plastic wrap. You can position them individually or arrange them in a visually appealing layout, with some peonies going in opposite directions.
- Carefully roll the peonies up in the plastic wrap, make sure that the stem tips and blooms are fully covered and the flower is completely sealed within the plastic wrap to prevent air exposure.
- Place the wrapped-up peonies in a resealable plastic bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it shut.
- Lay the bag of wrapped peony flowers horizontally in the refrigerator. This helps maintain the integrity of the flowers and prevents them from getting crushed or misshapen during storage. The only down side is this does take up quite a bit of room in your refridgerator.
Revive The Peonies
- Take the wrapped peonies out of the refrigerator when you're ready to use them. Allow them to come to room temperature to gradually warm up.
- Give each peony a clean trim by cutting approximately 2 inches off the bottom of the stem at a sharp angle. This helps the peony absorb water more efficiently and promotes better hydration.
- Place the trimmed peony in a clean vase filled with lukewarm water and add flower food. Allow the peony to sit in the water and warm up to room temperature.
- Over the next few days, the peonies should begin to open and bloom. Since the peony was closed when initially cut, it may take approximately 2 days for the peony to start opening up and blooming. Keep them away from direct sunlight and drafts to prolong their freshness and lifespan.
- Display and enjoy your beautifully preserved peonies months later!
Video
Notes
Peony Preserving Tips
- If you plan to use the peonies for a specific occasion, keep in mind that it may take a few days for them to fully open after removing them from the fridge.
- Using this preservation technique, I’ve successfully revived peonies as late as September, well beyond their typical bloom season in mid-June in Alberta, Canada.
- Ensure the peonies are clean and free of bugs to prevent mold growth before starting the preservation process.
- The longer you keep peonies in the fridge, the higher the risk of browning or mold development before use. For special occasions like weddings, wrap up extra peonies to ensure you have enough for your needs in case this happens.
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