How to Care for Peonies

Peonies are some of nature’s most beautiful flowers, which are typically in season late-spring to early summer. They are adored and known for their luxurious blooms and soft fragrance. Due to their beauty, I often enjoy placing them in our bedroom and guest bedroom for all to enjoy. Their beauty however is often short-lived. When trimmed and placed inside of a vase, peonies flowers typically only last 7 – 10 days. With that said, it is important to know the best tips and tricks for how to care for peonies. Despite peonies having a reputation for delicacy, with the right care, you can enjoy their beauty and fragrance inside your home by using the guide below:

Tips For Selecting and Preparing Peonies For Vase Arrangement

I typically buy my peonies from Traders Joe’s, a local florist, or farmers market. When selecting and preparing the best peony flowers to bring home, here are my top 3 tips:

1. Avoid Tight Bloom Heads: Avoid bloom heads that are too tight and appear they may not open easily. You want to select blooms that have not opened yet, and appear to be ready to bloom without appearing too tight.
2. Remove Wilted Leaves: Remove wilted leaves from the bud’s base
3. Remove Unnecessary Leaf Foliage : Remove all leaves that will fall below the water line in your vase before cutting stems. Leaving leaves in the water will cause faster bacteria growth, which shortens the life of your flower.

Vase Preparation and Placement for Peonies

Now that you’ve selected the best looking peonies and removed any unnecessary bud leaves, you are now ready to prepare your vase for a beautiful floral arrangement.

1. Clean Vase: Choose a clean vase to prevent bacteria growth, which can harm your peonies.
2. Add a SMALL Dash of Bleach: I know this tip sounds strange, but adding a small splash of bleach to warm water will prevent additional bacteria growth. This also means you will not have to change the water daily. You can extend your vase’s water life to change every 2-3 days. Please take care to not add too much bleach, this will change the color of your flower’s petals.
3. Water Temperature: Fill your vase with lukewarm water. Not only does this make plant food or sugar dissolve easily, this will help the peony flower blooms since they are sensitive to temperature changes.
4. Peony Food: Some peonies may come with a packet of flower food. However, I’ve found just a spoon full of sugar, stirred and dissolved in your water / bleach mixture works effectively as well.

Clear Ribbed Glass Vase

SHOP HERE

Handbag Clear Glass Vase

SHOP HERE

Geometric Glass Vase

SHOP HERE

Cutting, Arranging and Displaying Peonies

With your clean vase prepared, water and food ready, it is now time to cut and arrange your flowers:

1. Cutting: With lower stem leaves removed, each peony stem should be cut at an angle, preferably at a 45 degree angle to open as large a hole as possible.
2. Give Them A Gentle Massage: Before placing each closed bud peony into the vase, gently massage the outer petals to encourage them to loosen and open up.
3. Arrangement: Arrange your peonies in a vase and enjoy watching them bloom! Allow each bloom its own space to avoid overcrowding, which can cause petals to droop.

Stubborn Peony Blooms & Location Tips

I recommend placing peonies in a location that’s bright, but with indirect sunlight. I’ve found that placing them in direct sunlight and other heat sources cause them to wilt prematurely. If you notice a few buds fail to open after a few days, gently tap their bloom heads on the counter or massage the outer leaves to encourage them to open up.

Maintaining Your Beautiful Peonies

Peony flowers typically last anywhere from 7-10 days. To maximize their lifespan, I recommend following these simple three tips:

1. Water Check: Peonies love water! If you do not add bleach to your water, you will need to change their water daily. If you add a small splash of bleach, changing the water every 2-3 days is fine. Clean fresh water keeps them happy and healthy.
2. Stem Care: Each time you change the water in the vase, I recommend recutting the stems. This will prevent bacteria growth and ensures the peonies continue to absorb water effectively.
3. Trimming Leaves and Faded Blooms: As you trim each stem, be sure to remove any lower leaves that could touch water. As individual blooms begin to fade, carefully snip these off as well. This will keep your peony arrangement looking fresh, allowing remaining flowers to open fully.

Video Instructions: