When do you pick hydrangea for dried flowers and how far down the stem do you cut?

Many people in the Tyler area grow and appreciate hydrangeas for their large, showy flowers that bloom late and last several weeks before beginning to wane. One does not, however, necessarily have to bid farewell to the loveliness of these blue, lavender, or pink displays. On the contrary, if they are cut at just the right time, they will last several years indoors without having to fuss with any preservation techniques at all.



The key to having dried hydrangea arrangements in a home with little or no effort is to pick the blooms at just the point when they first begin to lose some color but before the blooms dry on the bush. They will still appear lush and will show some green within the original color of the blooms.



After they have been cut, just pop them into any decorator container or vase and enjoy. Do not add water or any liquid. As they continue to lose moisture, they will retain their color and shape for a long time. Eventually, the green tones will fade to an antique color and finally turn brown. But by then, you will have produced several more crops of hydrangeas to use as replacements.

When do you pick hydrangea for dried flowers and how far down the stem do you cut?
Yes, as stated above, cut just above two leaves. That way you'll get two new stems there. I have had my best no-brainer luck with Hydrangeas late in the season. I cut when the flowers were mostly dry, put them in a vase with no water. And they are still here. You will lose all the leaves. You know how when in Autumn the flowers sometimes are greenish, that is when to do it.



Good luck :-)
Reply:I have heard that it is best to wait until the blooms feel papery but still have good color. I would cut far enough down so that you have a stem to hang them from. If you don't want to cut all the way at the bottom of the stem then cut just above a set of leaves or leaf buds.
Reply:I cut mine in the middle of winter. Was told that that's the best time to prune them (when they're dormant). But I believe you could pick them any time. Cut as far down the stem as you wish. The taller the vase you're putting them in, the longer the stem you'll need. Generally you want to cut them just above a leaf node.
Reply:Well, when I dried mine I cut next to the joint where the stem grew. I picked nice full blooms. Then I hung them upside down and wired them to a rod in my utility room. They dry beautifully and stay a very long time.