How to Cut Blooms on Pincushion Flowers
Pincushion flowers (scabiosa) begin blooming in early summer and continue to produce new blooms until early fall. The flowers grow on 18-inch stems, forming a dense clump of blooms in a variety of colors that include yellow, red and blue. The thread-like petals resemble a pincushion full of pins, earning the flower its common name. The pincushion flower makes an excellent cut flower since the blossoms survive for up to two weeks when properly cut and cared for in the vase. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Fill a bucket with warm water. Placing cut stems in water immediately helps prolong the flower life.
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Inspect the pincushion flower buds to determine which ones to cut. Choose flowers with healthy buds that are just beginning to open. Cutting in the morning prolongs cut flower life, since the leaves and stems are filled with water and not afflicted with midday wilting.
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Cut the stem at its base, using a sharp knife. Make the cut at a 45-degree angle. Place the flower in the water after cutting.
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Set the bucket in a cool area away from direct light. Leave the flowers in the bucket overnight so they take in the water.
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Strip off any leaves on the stem that sit below the water level once in the vase. Pincushion flowers have a long stem with a flower on top. The stem is divided near its base by one or two lateral shoots that also have flower buds. Remove the lateral shoots if you prefer a single, long-stemmed bloom for your arrangement.
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Fill the vase with water. Dissolve a floral preservative in the water. Recut the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle and arrange the pincushion flowers in the vase.
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Tips & Warnings
Replace the water in the vase every two days. Fresh water extends the blooming period of your cut flowers.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
