I found a way to keep hydrangeas from wilting in a heat wave

We had a big wedding order last July in Austin, and the forecast said 105 degrees. I knew the blue hydrangeas would be mush before the ceremony. My usual trick of cold water and floral foam wasn't cutting it. Out of pure panic, I filled a spray bottle with ice water and a single drop of clear dish soap, shook it up, and gave the blooms a very light mist right before they left the shop. I told the delivery driver to keep them in the coolest part of his van. The bride texted me a photo three hours later, and they still looked perfect. The soap seems to make the water stick to the petals longer, giving them a bit of a cooling shield. I've done it on four events since with the same kind of weather, and it's worked every time. Has anyone else found a different trick for extreme heat that doesn't involve a walk-in cooler?

2 comments

2 Comments

mary_ross18d ago

That's a genius trick with the dish soap. My own attempts at keeping plants alive in the summer usually involve frantic watering and a lot of sad, droopy leaves. I once tried to save a basil plant by putting ice cubes on the soil, which just made a muddy mess. Your method sounds way more scientific. Do you find it works better on certain flower types than others?

bethcarr18d ago

Mary's right about it being flower-specific. In my experience, waxy petals like roses or succulents don't take to the soap mist as well, it can leave a weird film. But for soft, thin-petaled stuff like hydrangeas or peonies, that extra layer of moisture really buys them time. It's basically giving them a tiny evaporative cooler for the ride. Just one drop of soap is key, any more and you risk clogging the plant's pores.

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