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7 Tips for Long-Lasting Lilac Blooms

Lilacs😍 Am I right? Their beautiful clusters of tiny, delicate flowers, all different shades from whites to lavenders to violets to deep purples, and need I mention that intoxicating scent!? They have to be one of my favorite blooms to harvest for the home in the early spring and today I’m sharing my harvesting and vaselife tips for these timeless beauties!

If you follow on Instagram you may have caught my stories where I demonstrated and explained all the tips, if not check it out in my “LILACS” highlight!

But if you’re looking to cut and keep long-lasting lilac blooms, you’re definitely in the right place!

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7 Tips for Long-Lasting Lilac Blooms

1. Harvest Blooms in the Morning

Cut your stems in the early morning or late evening – never in the heat of the day! This is a rule that goes for all cut blooms. Harvesting in the heat of the day will put extra stress on the flower and could send them into shock/decrease their post-harvest life. It’s best to cut in the morning when temps are coolest!

2. 1/3 of the Flower Head Should Be in Bud

Harvest long stems and partially closed flowers are best! Lilacs should be harvested when 1/3-2/3 of the flower head is still in bud ( as pictured just above), this will help them last longer in water after being harvested. Long stems are best for arranging so I always cut at least 12-18″ stems!

3. Remove Leaves Immediately

De-leaf stems immediately after cutting them from the tree. Removing most, if not all, of the leaves is something I recommend doing with pretty much every cut flower. The goal is to get that prize-winning bloom to last as long as possible so they can be enjoyed to the fullest extent, right? So by removing unnecessary leaves from the stem you are helping allow most of the water and nutrients to get to the flower instead of being wasted on foliage.

4. Use Clean and Sharp Pruners

Use clean and sharp pruning shears to cut your stems! They should be sanitized with rubbing alcohol before use and sharp so that the cut is clean and does not damage the tree or stem.

5. Bring a Bucket of Water With You

Fill a bucket half way with clean, warm water and bring it outside to the tree with you. This way you can give these water-guzzling stems an immediate drink. They will greatly appreciate this as it helps prevent wilting.

6. Number One Tip For Woody Stems

Woody stems are notoriously hard to make last once cut so here’s the biggest tip – make one to two 2-3″ cuts vertically up each stem. Then with your fingers kind of rough up the fibers to separate them a bit. Breaking up the tight fibers of the woody stems helps dramatically with water absorption and therefore vase life of your lilac blooms!

7. Add Flower Food & Change Water Daily

Add a packet of flower preservative to your vase (linking my preferred one HERE) and some fresh, clean, untreated water then submerge your stems. Remember to change water daily, remember when it comes to cut flowers cleanliness is king and bacteria is your worst enemy!

I hope these tips help you keep long-lasting lilac blooms in the home season after season! Leave me a comment to let me know if you try this out and how it worked for you!