Watching people try to force peonies open with heat drives me nuts

I see this all the time, especially with new hires. They get a tight peony delivery and think blasting it with warm air from a dryer or putting it on a hot vent will speed things up. It just cooks the outer petals and makes them brown and papery before the center even thinks about opening. I learned this the hard way about six months ago when I ruined a whole batch of Sarah Bernhardt peonies for a big wedding order. The proper way is cool water, a clean cut, and time... maybe a day in a cool, dark spot. Rushing it just wrecks the bloom. Has anyone else found a good trick for gently encouraging stubborn peonies without damaging them?

2 comments

2 Comments

james53320d ago

Reminds me of a guy on my route who tried to force open a stuck mailbox lock with a lighter. Melted the plastic flap shut, and I had to hold his mail for a week. Some things just need the right key and a little patience, not heat.

taragibson20d ago

My uncle fixed a frozen lock on his shed with a hair dryer once. A little heat in the right spot can actually work wonders if you're careful.