These Early Spring Blooms Wilt Way Too Fast UNLESS You Do This

Spring is here and the garden is coming alive. The early plants are peeking their heads out above the soil. Even better, hellebores, that gardeners’ favorite, are already blooming.

Grown in dappled sunlight, hellebores, also known as Lenten roses, are pretty perennials with dark green, leathery leaves that are evergreen in warm climates. Hellebores are among the first to flower in late winter and early spring, making them especially coveted in the garden. While “rose” may be in their name, they are not actually part of the rose family; the moniker comes from their nodding, rose-like blooms.

After a winter without flowers, or buying lackluster ones from the grocery store, we all yearn for fresh-cut blooms scattered around the house. So it follows that we want to do what we can to extend the vase life of the precious garden blooms we do have.

Unless treated properly when cut, hellebore stems will wilt and become limp within 24 hours. If you wait until the flowers have matured—indicated by hardened sepals and shedding stamens—you can skip these steps. But if you can’t wait to bring the blooms inside, follow this quick process.

Here’s how to prepare hellebore stems so they last up to two weeks inside:

1. Start by snipping the stems with sharp garden shears.

2. Use a sharp paring knife to make a few shallow scores along the length of each cut stem.

3. Place the scored stems in a glass of almost-boiling water for 5 seconds.

4. After 5 seconds, transfer the stems to a vase or glass of cold water.

Voilà! Now you have Lenten rose stems that will last for weeks—the perfect way to celebrate spring!

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