Making peonies last longer!
Before putting the peonies in the box for storage it's important to remove almost all of the leaves from the stems. This procedure cuts down on bulk and greatly reduces the surface for unwanted moisture across the whole flower. One thing that's great about peonies is that they're easy to store in your fridge at a preferable around 37 degree Fahrenheit so they don't freeze. The cold serves to slow down the development of the flower and preserves the bud until ready for use.
Here we're lining the boxes with wet newspaper to help give the peonies water during transport until they reach the cooler. This will also help keep them chilled and will keep the stems moist during storage while in the cooler. The newspaper doesn't need to be checked during storage for continued moisture. When ready the stems are cut and placed in water.
If you aren't wanting to use the box system due to space or your fridge is not close enough to the desired temperature, similarly you'll want to still wrap them in newspaper but dry, place rubber bands on the ends, and store them on their sides in a place that stays consistently cool around the 37 degree temperature.
Most types of peonies can be held for two or three weeks, some up to twice as long and still give a good vase life. Almost all peonies will hold a few days cut; some kinds are better than others.
Wanting to know the do's and don'ts for drying flowers once their vase life comes to an end? Check out information on our blog at: THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF DRYING
