How Do I Take Care of My Peonies?

As with all stems, you should follow your basic floral care recommendations, which are spelled out here. 

• You’ll get your peonies in bud form - meaning they have not bloomed yet; they may look like tight little balls.
• For best hydration:
  • Remove most leaves on the stem
  • Cut stems at a 45 degree angle to increase the surface area of the cut and encourage better water absorption
  • Re-cut stems every two days to maximize vase life
  • Warm vase water or direct sunlight will encourage peonies to open more quickly, but may shorten overall vase life
• You can place their peonies into the refrigerator (away from the walls) overnight to help extend vase life
• Peonies of all kinds will change color (specifically becoming much paler) as they develop and open.

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. 

Also, if your peonies are looking a little lanky in the vase, I 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.