How do I get cut peony buds to open?

June 6, 2006 7:48 AM

I bought four peony flowers at the market, two of them were really tight buds, two were slightly looser buds. The loose ones are opening just fine in the vase (and they're gorgeous!!) but the tight ones haven't budged. I was wondering if anyone had any tricks (ie. something to put in the water?) to make the buds bloom.
posted by semidivine to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

According to the florist for my wedding, you needs ants to eat away the sugary coating on the buds for the peony flowers to bloom. However, a quick Google search shows this may just be a common myth.
posted by geeky at 7:57 AM on June 6, 2006

Warmer rooms make buds open faster, colder rooms slow the process down. So if you can, move the buds to a warmer place, or even put them outside in the sun. Spray the bud directly a few times with some warm water, because geeky is right...there is a syrupy coating on the buds that can prevent them from opening, and spraying it with warm water will dilute it.

Also, while the stems with the tight buds are underwater, go snip off an eighth of an inch or so, in case the stem has sealed itself off from the water supply. Just a tiny snip.
posted by iconomy at 8:08 AM on June 6, 2006

iconomy is right on about the warmer temperature opening up blooms. I worked as a florist years ago and we used to quickly blow air with our mouths into roses to make them open if needed. I never tried it on peonies.
posted by dog food sugar at 8:55 AM on June 6, 2006

I've also heard that ants are necessary, but you can't just go dig some up from the back yard. All the ants I've seen on peonies are a specific kind. Warm water might work, or maybe a hair dryer at a very low temperature for a short time.

When you're making the snip that iconomy recommended, make it diagonally across the base of the stem.
posted by booksandlibretti at 12:21 PM on June 6, 2006

Oh! Oh! I just learned this trick with peonies! Take the tightly-budded flowers, and put them face-down into a sink full of hot/warm water for about five minutes. Give it a few hours and they'll open just fine. I've tried it twice.

So glad to get to pass this on! I thought it was a really neat trick.
posted by pomegranate at 1:20 PM on June 6, 2006