Velvet Brown - Home Accessories

October heralds the start of Autumn and the plentiful supply of summer flowers beings to wane.  However if you’re struggling to find beautiful flowers to bring indoors in October, the Hydrangea will save the day.  Late season mop-head Hydrangea are the perfect cut-flowers to display in a vase as they’re easy to arrange, long lasting and are available in an array of Autumnal colours to complement the season.

If you’re cutting Hydrangea from the garden, it is easy to dry the flowers.  The best time to cut the flower heads is when the florets feel like fine tissue paper.  Cut the flowers and remove all the leaves, as these will become dry and crispy.  Then simply arrange the flowers in a clean vase with a little tepid water, ensuring the stems are immersed in water.  After a few days the Hydrangea heads will slowly dry on the stem and will stop taking up water.  Discard the water and these dried flower heads can then be used year-round as a dried display.  For a festive touch simply spray the flower heads with metallic paint, or cut the flower heads into clumps and add to seasonal flower arrangements or festive door wreaths.

There are now some stunning long-stemmed cut Hydrangeas available from good florists in an array of colours.  Three or five long stems in a vase will look amazing, however occasionally these long stems will struggle to take up enough water to keep the flower head looking fresh.  If the flower head starts to wilt, simply recut the base of the stem and place in fresh water and the flower should revive.