The Easy DIY That Helps Woody-Stemmed Plants Look Beautiful & Last Longer

Fresh cut flowers bring so much life and character into a home, it's such a shame they fade so quickly. But instead of switching to decorative fake flowers, remember that there are clever hacks that you can use to make fresh flowers last longer. For example, you can make woody-stemmed plants like hydrangeas or roses last much longer if you treat their stems with some alum.

This clever flower food alternative is perfectly simple, and it can be done without fancy tools and supplies. All you need to do is dip the cut edge of each flower into alum powder (also known as aluminum potassium sulfate) before placing it in a vase. You can buy alum powder online, like this Herbs Botanica Potassium Alum Powder on Amazon that retails for $6.74, or at the grocery store. The great thing about this hack is that doesn't require a ton of alum powder every time, so you can keep the same bag for a long while. In addition, just make sure to have sharp scissors to cut your stems, and a vase of water.

There are two types of perennials every gardener should know: herbaceous and woody-stemmed. While this hack works for all flowers, it's particularly helpful for woody-stemmed flowers. These aren't the same as herbaceous plants like tulips because, as the name implies, they have woody, hard, and thick stems that restrict how well the plant can take water in. Here, we're talking about plants like lilacs, magnolias, or roses, that often grow on shrubs.

Alum powder is the secret ingredient that can be used to keep cut hydrangeas and other woody-stemmed plants fresh for weeks. But before you just dip your stem in the powder and call it a day, there are some preparatory steps to take. When you buy cut flowers, it's best to recut the stems yourself before placing them in a vase. To do this, grab a pair of sharp scissors, and cut at a 45-degree angle. Doing this increases how much of the stem's inside is exposed to water, which allows the flower to take more water in.

Once your clean angled cut is done, time to dip! Simply pour out a bit of alum powder into a ramekin and dip the cut edge of the flower into it. Then, place the flower in your vase filled with water, and you're done.

Alum powder works for this because it is acidic. By reducing the pH of the water, more water is able to travel up the stem to the flowers and petals and keep them fresh longer. You can do it once and refill the vase with water whenever it gets too low. Alternatively, you can recut the stems every four days and dip it in alum powder again.