Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Condition Cut Daylilies for Arrangements

Daylilies are gorgeous flowers not often used in floral arrangements because of their reputation for being hard to work with. However, there is a way to condition daylilies so they will last longer and look stunning in any flower arrangement. By taking a few steps to ensure the flower is taken care of from the ground to your vase, you can have professional-looking flowers without the professional-looking price tag.

Fill a bucket or container with several inches of water. Using very sharp scissors or garden snips, cut the lilies several inches longer then the desired length for the arrangement, then immediately put the cut flowers into the bucket.

Remove the lower leaves and side stems from the main stem of each flower so that nothing besides the stem will be submerged in the water when the arrangement is complete.

Fill a vase halfway with warm water and add cut-flower food in a ratio recommended by the manufacturer. Stir the flower food into the water until it dissolves completely.

  • Daylilies are gorgeous flowers not often used in floral arrangements because of their reputation for being hard to work with.
  • Using very sharp scissors or garden snips, cut the lilies several inches longer then the desired length for the arrangement, then immediately put the cut flowers into the bucket.

Using your sharp scissors or garden snips, cut 1 inch off the bottom of each daylily stem at a sharp angle. Do this to each flower, then let the flowers sit in the vase for several hours.

After the flowers have sat in the water for several hours, arrange them to your liking. Continue to change the water and add the cut flower food according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Tip

Cut daylilies in the morning or evening, because this is when they have the most water already in their stems. Use sharp scissors or shears, because a dull blade will tear at the plant material, reducing the flower's ability to draw fluids. If you are using already-cut flowers from a flower shop or wholesaler, remove the packaging from the flowers and put them in a container of water as quickly as you can.

Warning

The longer you leave fresh-cut daylilies out of water, the sooner they will dry out. A dried lily will wilt faster, leaving you with a less-than-stellar arrangement.

Related Articles

How to Dye Hydrangeas
How to Dye Hydrangeas
How to Grow Iris Bulbs Inside
How to Grow Iris Bulbs Inside
When and How to Transplant Daylilies
When and How to Transplant Daylilies
How to Preserve Flowers With Clorox
How to Preserve Flowers With Clorox
How to Revive Wilted Roses
How to Revive Wilted Roses
Homemade Cut Flower Preservative
Homemade Cut Flower Preservative
How to Grow Gladiolus Bulbs Indoors
How to Grow Gladiolus Bulbs Indoors
Common Flowers for Bouquets
Common Flowers for Bouquets
How to Use Sugar & Vinegar to Preserve Cut Flowers
How to Use Sugar & Vinegar to Preserve Cut Flowers
How to Winter Carnations
How to Winter Carnations
Care of Daylilies
Care of Daylilies
How to Take Care of Cannas
How to Take Care of Cannas
Flowers to Plant in Washington State
Flowers to Plant in Washington State
Do Geraniums Need Full Sun All Day?
Do Geraniums Need Full Sun All Day?
How Do Flowers Absorb Dye?
How Do Flowers Absorb Dye?
Garden Guides
×