Peonies are stunning flowers but expensive, it’s sad when they don’t open. For those that don’t know, I used to be a floral designer. On the job at the very beginning, it was frustrating when many of the peonies we would buy never opened, resulting in us having to purchase more for client work. I eventually learnt this tip and wanted to share it with you. It isn’t a guarantee that they will open but usually, they do. :)

Why peonies don’t always open

The buds sometimes have a sticky sap that prevents them from opening. If you look closely at the picture you can see the closed bud with some shiny sticky sap.

Tip to get them to open

Very gently wipe the sap away with some warm water until the residue has gone. Please be careful not to rub too vigorously, you don’t want to hurt the flower. This will allow your peonies to naturally open.