Spanish Bluebells As a Cut Flower

With their long, graceful stems and blue bell-shaped blooms, Spanish bluebells make an attractive addition to any garden. These spring-flowering bulbs are native to Spain and Portugal. Like many garden flowers, however, they lend themselves well to cutting. Cutting Spanish bluebells when they are in bloom will not harm them. When cut, Spanish bluebells can make attractive bouquets and floral arrangements.

To cut Spanish bluebells, you will need a pair of scissors or garden shears as well as a water-filled bucket. Make sure the scissors or shears are clean, as they can transfer bacteria to the cut stems of the Spanish bluebells, which can shorten their lifespan. To clean scissors or shears, add a splash of bleach to hot, soapy water. Wash the tools in this solution with a sponge and rinse them thoroughly. Once you have cut the Spanish bluebells with your clean tools, place them immediately in a bucket filled with cool, clean water. Make sure the bucket you use is clean, as it, too, may harbour bacteria that are harmful to cut flowers. Before you use it, wash it with the same solution you used to clean your tools and rinse it thoroughly before filling it with fresh water.

Cut Spanish bluebells in the morning, before the sun has reached its highest, hottest point. In the morning flowers are most full of stored nutrients and are most fragrant. Alternatively, you can cut Spanish bluebells in the evening, after the sun has lowered and the temperature has cooled. Spanish bluebells, like other flowers, are more likely to wilt if you cut them in the heat of the afternoon.

Cut the stems of Spanish bluebells at a sharp angle using scissors or shears. Slicing stems at an angle helps all cut flowers to drink more efficiently once they are placed in water. The stems of Spanish bluebells are relatively thin and delicate. Take care not to bend the stems when you cut them. Place Spanish bluebells in a bucket of cool water immediately after cutting them. The water should reach about halfway up the bluebells' stems but not wet their blooms.

You can use Spanish bluebells to create an appealing bouquet or floral arrangement. Assemble a group of cut Spanish bluebells in a cluster and tie their stems with a ribbon before presenting them as a gift bouquet to a friend or loved one. Or group together a bunch of cut Spanish bluebells and place them in a water-filled vase for display in your home. You can also arrange cut Spanish bluebells in wet floral foam that you have placed in another type of container, such as a ceramic dish or wooden box; simply push the stems into the floral foam. Try combining cut Spanish bluebells with other flowers for a more colourful, interesting bouquet or arrangement. Spanish bluebells harmonise well with other spring flowers in shades of yellow, such as daffodils, daisies, and tulips.

Keep your bouquet or arrangement of cut Spanish bluebells in a cool place, where they will be out of direct sunlight, which can cause them to wilt more quickly. If your cut Spanish bluebells are placed in a water-filled vase, make sure the vase is clean and free of bacteria; wash it out using the same solution with which you cleaned the tools and bucket and rinse it thoroughly before adding fresh water and the flowers. Replace the water every day and give your Spanish bluebells a fresh cut by removing the bottom ½ inch of their stems at a sharp angle before putting them back into the fresh water. To preserve your cut Spanish bluebells by drying them, tie string or ribbon around their stems and hang them in a cluster upside down in a cool, dry place for two weeks.