The bloom looked perfect on the plant but within minutes of cutting, the whole stem is looking a little droopy. In fact, it looks downright sad!
In my reading and research about post-harvest care for flowers, I came across something called the “Boiling Water Method” for reviving wilted stems.
I was truly skeptical because the idea of placing stems in boiling water seems insane. In my experiments, I was attempting the opposite – recutting the stems and placing them into cold water. It didnt work.
I decided to give the “Boiling Water Method” a shot on some stems that I was about to throw out. I had cut the stems early in the morning, but they still wilted immediately… and a day later, even after being stored in my floral cooler overnight, they still looked terrible.
3. Immediately plunged the stem end into the boiling water, angling the blooms out the jar to avoid “steaming” the blooms.
4. Set a timer for 1 hour and walked away (I wanted to watch, but I had work to do!)
*NOTE: This was my first attempt. I learned that its probably best to fill the jar with about 1 inch of water, so only a small part of the stem is “cooked”. That part of the stem can be cut off later.
Also, one hour is probably unnecessary – I was headed out to work and wasnt able to check back earlier. If you are concerned about “cooking” the stems, try dipping for 10 seconds for soft stemmed flowers and up to a few minutes for “woody” stemmed flowers like hydrangeas. After “searing” in the boiling water, place the stems in cool water.
AMAZING. I was in shock. 2 minutes of work and these flowers were back in business!
I removed the stems from the jar and added them to an arrangement in my dining room. 6 days later, the stems were still looking GREAT.
Now obviously, if your blooms are 5-7 days old and they start wilting, you need to simply accept that they are dying a natural death. Flowers dont last forever.
However, if your blooms are freshly cut and wilting, then you can certainly give the “Boiling Water Method” a try. What do you have to lose? Its better than your other option – throwing them out.
Flowers are remarkably resilient even after facing trauma and damage. Their ability to recover revive, and bloom again after being crushed offers an inspiring metaphor for human resilience in overcoming adversity.
Annual Flowers Rapidly Regrow After Injury
Common annual flowers like petunias, marigolds, and zinnias live just one growing season. But during their short life, they demonstrate remarkable resilience by quickly replacing damaged tissue. When cells are crushed, annuals mobilize resources to rapidly divide and elongate new cells, refilling any gaps within days The footprint of crushed leaves or stems is swiftly replaced by fresh growth
Annuals teach us that we can bounce back and blossom again despite temporary setbacks. Their rapid regrowth shows adversity need not define us.
Perennial Flowers Slowly Rejuvenate Over Time
Hardy perennial flowers like irises, peonies, and coneflowers take a slower route of recovery. These long-lived plants rebuild damaged tissue at a measured pace from their roots up through the stems and leaves. Complete structural recovery can take weeks or months.
With patience and nurturing, even extensive damage gives way to full renewal in time. The measured recovery of perennials provides perspective that healing from deeper wounds often requires steadfast perseverance. But the waiting brings deeper roots and even more glorious blooms.
Bulb Flowers Reliably Resurge Each Season
Bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths pack their essence into an underground energy reserve. If emerging stems or flowers meet tragedy, the bulb remains unharmed below ground, ready to reliably revive when conditions are right.
Damaged bulb flowers fade away, but their disappearance marks the beginning of renewal. From the security of their bulbs, the plants predictably rise again each season, reminding us that cycles of dormancy and recovery allow us to bloom anew.
Roses Repeatedly Offer Their Radiant Display
Botanically, roses regrow from undamaged buds after injury like other woody shrubs. But roses hold such cultural symbolism that their revival carries extra significance. Rose blossoms continually replace spent blooms with fresh ones all season. New flowers emerge as perfect and unblemished as those before.
Roses remind us each present moment offers a chance for renewal. Their outward beauty renews itself indefinitely, regardless of any wilted blossoms of yesterday.
Trees Gradually Restore Their Grace Over Years
Trees like oaks and maples represent aged wisdom and steadfast strength. But they cannot be fully immune to damage from storms, pests, or human hands. Yet when formidable branches break or bark is gouged, the trees slowly protect and compartmentalize wounds, then generate new growth over years.
What first appears devastating becomes incorporated into the tree’s story. Through patient regrowth, the tree restores its graceful form. Trees show time and care can transform scars into points of growth that accentuate enduring beauty.
Cacti Thrive in Harsh Landscapes
Cacti represent triumph in adversity. Their adaptations let them not just survive, but thrive in brutally harsh conditions. Spines ward off predators, waxy cuticles retain moisture, and shallow roots readily absorb minimal water. Damaged cactus stems heal over and eventually generate new protective spines.
The ability to prosper in extreme environments makes cacti a symbol of resilience. They remind us specialized protection allows us to find sustenance and beauty even in the harshest emotional landscapes.
Lotus Flowers Transcend Difficult Conditions
In Buddhism, the lotus represents purity and enlightenment. Lotus flowers remarkably bloom directly from muddy, murky water, pristinely rising above challenging conditions. This demonstrates the potential to transcend difficulty and awaken beauty even in dark places.
Lotuses remind us not to let hardships weigh us down. With resilience and care, we can rise above circumstances to blossom unstained. Their daily rebirth gives hope for continual renewal.
Dandelions Show Relentless Adaptability
Dandelions demonstrate remarkable adaptability and persistence. Their deep taproots and prolific windborne seeds ensure they bounce back relentlessly, despite efforts to remove them. This lets dandelions thrive almost anywhere, from roadsides to sidewalk cracks.
Though often seen as a nuisance, they can inspire us to seek opportunity and joy in all places. Their will to live mirrors the resilience of the human spirit. Dandelions encourage us to spread hope far and wide while blooming brightly wherever we are.
Lessons from the Resilience of Flowers
Like flowers recovering after being crushed, we too can heal and bloom again after adversity. The way flowers bounce back despite damage symbolizes our own resilience. Their variety of regrowth methods and timelines provide perspective for different life challenges.
Flowers remind us renewal comes in time. Their perseverance inspires us to endure hardship, deliberately rebuild, and await the emergence of new blooms. By learning from the uplifting examples of flowers, we can nurture hope that more beautiful days always lie ahead.
The plant was harvested at the wrong stage.
Every single flower has it’s own “Ideal Stage of Harvest”, which refers to how open or mature the bloom should be for optimal vase life.
Some flowers need to mature a bit more before being cut or they will flop. Really, the best way to figure this out is simply experimenting. If the stem feels floppy on the plant before you even cut it, that is likely a clue that the stem needs to mature a few more days. Wait until the stem feels more rigid. For example, Zinnias are easy to test. Simply grasp the stem about 9 inches below the bloom and give it a shake. If the stem flops or bends, its not mature enough. If the stem is stiff, its ready.
The flower was cut at the wrong time of the day.
Many flowers will immediately wilt if cut during the heat of the day.
Here’s why. Flowers are the most hydrated and firm in the morning, when the stems are filled with water.
As the day progresses and the heat rises , the water flows down the stems into the base of the plants and the flowers begin to dehydrate, which means the stems can get floppy and wilty.
Flowers that are harvested in the heat of the day are wilty, floppy and expire faster.
This is why we ONLY harvest flowers in the cool of the day, either early in the morning or late in the evening. On our farm, we start cutting as soon as its light enough (around 6:00 am) and stop as soon as the sun is up over the tree line and it starts to heat up (about 10:00 am).
If the day is cool or cloudy, we can get away with cutting later in the day… but if the sun is out, forget about cutting in the middle of the day.
Evening is another good option for cutting. Start when the sun is far on the horizon and the day has cooled.
flowers grow back even after they are stepped on – and so will you.
FAQ
Do flowers grow back after being stepped on?
What does flowers grow back even when they are stepped on mean?
“Flowers grow back even after they have been stepped on.” The quickest way to lose yourself is by trying to satisfy everyone. Real strength comes from standing firm in your values even if it means not everyone will agree with you. Sometimes it is better to let things go that hold you back.
What is a famous quote about flowers and God?
12 Christian Quotes on Flowers
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” “Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.” “Every flower must grow through dirt.” “Lovely flowers are the smiles of God’s goodness.”
What is a quote about flowers growing?
“The flowers that bloom tomorrow are the seeds you planted today.” “In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends.” “Nothing in nature blooms all year — be patient with yourself.” “Live life in full bloom.”