Make Your Peonies Last All Summer Long With Parchment Paper And The Fridge

Is there anything more upsetting than cutting your peonies from the garden then realizing you will only get to enjoy them for a few days to a week before they all wilt? If you have a big bouquet after waiting all year for them to grow, you may wish there was a way to preserve them, and of course, thanks to the internet and gardening pros, there is a technique to keep your cut flowers fresh longer. Rather than putting all of your cuttings in a vase (or several) all at once, you can save more than half of your flowers with a fridge hack that keeps them fresh and ready to display for up to three months. All you need is craft paper, plastic wrap, and a little time to wrap your peonies up to keep them safe! You'll also want a fridge plenty of space freed up in your refrigerator.

This hack will keep your peonies healthy until you're ready to display them. To get started, gather all your peonies on a flat surface with your craft paper and your plastic wrap. It's important to only use peonies that have not fully bloomed, as they will preserve best when they are in what is called the marshmallow state. One way to determine if they are ready for this trick is to push on the bud with your fingers: If it's hard, it isn't ideal to cut it yet. While there is no set number of blooms that you can place inside each wrap, you don't want to overdo it, so consider adding five to 10 stems per wrap to avoid squishing the petals.

You could also swap out the craft paper for brown paper grocery bags or newspaper that you cut up. Some people also use the paper towels and plastic peony storage trick, though this could produce too much moisture that accumulates mildew. Don't forget to pull off the lower leaves and foliage so they don't take the remaining water the flowers will need. To begin, lay out enough craft paper so that it can wrap completely around both the stems and top of the flower. Wrap them up securely, creating a cone shape, but make sure it's not too tight. If you're pulling craft paper from the roll, lay the flowers diagonally so they fit and trim the ends if you need to. 

Once they are the size you need, stretch the paper roll out so you can fold it over the stems completely. If you're using newspaper or grocery bags, consider adding a few sheets so you can fully cover and wrap the peonies. The paper is there to help absorb any excess water that might seep out. Next, take your plastic wrap and completely cover the craft paper cone you've created by folding over the top edges and scrunching the bottom around the stems. Roll the plastic a few times around to secure. This keeps in just enough freshness and moisture so the flowers stay vase-ready. Add your packages to the fridge until you need them — they should stay fresh for an entire season.