How to bring in cut peonies without the ants

Question

I have several peonies plants, but when I cut a bloom to bring inside it is always full of ants. How do I get rid of the ants before I bring  them inside?

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Lightly spray with some insecticidal soap before you bring them in.

Edwina Romano · Answer

Pick them before they bloom.  The bud  will blossom beautifully  once they are in a vase in your home and you will enjoys watching them bloom into their glory.  Once the inner part of the buds start to open the ants will come.
My daughter and I do this every year.....and no ants.

MN Mom · Answer

Peonies need ants in order to open their buds. Once you sever the bloom from the plant, technically it is dead. It won't continue to grow although it may open a bit. I usually give my peonies a good shake to get rid of ants.

Lisa Harrill · Answer

Sprinkle them with 5 % sevin dust a little while before you bring them in....then just shake the dust off. It wont really hurt you but be sure to wash your hands.

Edwina Romano · Answer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKHT7205xYI Peonies need ants to bloom is a 'wives tale'. See what experts say https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKHT7205xYI

Barb M · Answer

DO NOT dust your flowers with Sevin and bring them in the house that is really bad poison and would be bad for your family and your pets. Just shake the flowers off softly and put them in a vase of water. I do it every spring and have never had a ant in my house from the flowers. Be Safe

Eve Lococo Gualtiere · Answer

I dunk my flowers in a bucket of water before bringing them in . Ants float to the top of the bucket.

Johnchip · Answer

You can spray the stem with Raid or such preferably before you cut or after if need be.

Tammy · Answer

Peonies need ants to eat the sticky coating off the outside of the bud before they can open. I always lay cut peonies on newspaper for about 15-20 minutes before I bring them inside. There is something in the newsprint/ink that they don't like and they will crawl away. Please don't sprinkle pesticide on them for everyone to inhale when they are smelling your beautiful flowers!

Jennifer Muller · Answer

You can also swish the peonies in a bucket of water with a *little* salt added - it is not enough to kill the peonies, but it kills the ants

Melissa Pfrogner · Answer

I cut mine put them in water for the day or overnight a they all crawl off

Kim |Exquisitely Unremarkable · Answer

I cut them just as they're beginning to blossom, put them in a vase with water in the house and they bloom inside beautifully.

Annie · Answer

If you want to cut open blooms, give them a good shake outside then place in water and leave the outside for a few hours. The ants should have enough time to get off the peonies and you can bring them in

Ann|The Apple Street Cottage · Answer

Cut them before they open up.

Chloe Crabtree · Answer

First, cut the flowers while they are still in the bud stage. Take a damp cloth and wipe the bud gently to remove any ants that may be on them.

Maura White · Answer

Spray them with soapy water and shake them gently. I really wish ants weren't necessary to make those beautiful blooms happen. I've never tried cutting them while they are still in bud stage - that also sounds like a great idea since the ants are way easier to remove.

Becky at Flipping the Flip · Answer

I always just turn the flowers upside down after cutting them and give them a good but gentle shake for a minute or two.

How to bring in cut peonies without the ants

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How to bring in cut peonies without the ants

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