In the garden, big, blowsy lilacs are irresistible, but cutting them for a vase can be disappointing, as they often start to droop by the end of the day. So how do you keep cut lilacs from wilting? With a few simple techniques and the right care, you'll be able to confidently keep these fragrant blooms looking perky in an indoor arrangement for days.
1. Cut Lilacs Strategically
The best time to cut flowers from lilac shrubs is early morning when they're fully hydrated. Use sharp, clean pruning shears to sever the stems just above a set of leaves. Then immediately plunge stems into a bucket of cool water. Try to cut the stems long enough so you can re-trim them every day to help maximize their vase life. If it's a warm day, get your flowers indoors into cooler temperatures as soon as possible.
2. Use a Clean Vase
Residue from soap or past arrangements may harm cut flowers, so make sure the vase you choose is clean. Run your glassware through a dishwasher cycle or wash it by hand with a solution of 10 percent bleach and 90 percent water.
3. Prep Your Lilac Stems
Fill the vase with fresh water, and stir in a floral preservative (available at flower shops) to increase the longevity of your blossoms. Before adding your freshly cut lilac flowers to the vase, pluck off all the foliage that would be submerged. Leaves under or in the water will rot quickly, creating conditions that will cause your lilac stems to wilt faster. You can leave the uppermost greenery on the stems for a fuller arrangement. Trim the bottom of the stems at a 45-degree angle, then cut a vertical slit that reaches about an inch up the stem, to encourage it to take up more water.
4. Choose a Cool Location
Finally, arrange your lilacs in the vase and set them you'd like to display them. It's a good idea to place your cut lilacs in a spot with indirect light because the heat from direct sunlight will cause faster wilting. Similarly, avoid placing your flowers near other heat sources, such as radiators or heating vents.
Lilacs can hold their own in a vase—no additional flowers or filler foliage necessary. For a larger arrangement, use a sturdy vase or crock, and anchor branches with the help of a pillow created out of chicken wire.
5. Freshen Things Up
Recut the stems at the same 45-degree angle daily with a clean pair of shears. If you think of a flower stem as a straw, sometimes the end gets clogged, so snipping off the end helps unclog things so the stem can keep taking up plenty of water for the flowers. Replenish the water in your vase daily or as needed if it looks cloudy.