As with all stems, you should follow your basic floral care recommendations.
Your peonies will arrive in bud form - meaning they have not bloomed yet; they may look like tight little balls.
To help the peonies bloom:
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- Remove most leaves from the stems
- Cut 1-2 inches off the stems at a 45 degree angle to increase the surface area of the cut and encourage better water absorption
- Immediately place in vase filled with room temperature or lukewarm water
- Re-cut stems every two days to maximize vase life
Peonies of all kinds will change color (specifically becoming much paler) as they develop and open.
Troubleshooting
If it’s been a day or two and your peonies aren’t opening, try running the bloom heads under warm water and then blotting dry. This can help to dissolve sugars around the petals that keep them closed. You can also gently but determinedly knock the heads of the flowers on a table or counter to encourage opening (we promise it won't hurt the beautiful blooms!)
If your peonies are looking a little lanky in the vase, we recommend trimming them down several inches and placing them in a vase with a very narrow opening. That will hold the stems closer together. Keep in mind that peonies have fairly skinny stems but you can give them a much more voluminous look with a more supportive vase.