Serious question, how many of you were taught to cut stems straight across?

I was prepping a big order of sunflowers for a wedding last Friday and saw the bride's mom just smash the ends with a hammer. Tried it on a few and they drank way more water overnight. Anyone else use this trick for woody stems?

2 comments

2 Comments

nancy_butler2d ago

My grandma taught me the hammer trick for lilacs. She would split the ends with a knife too. It really does help them suck up more water, especially the tough stems. I always cut roses at an angle but for woody stuff, a little smash works wonders.

irisg572d ago

Honestly, splitting the stem with a knife is actually better than the hammer trick. Smashing can crush the tiny tubes that pull water up the stem, and it makes the water get dirty faster. You still want to cut it at an angle, but a clean slice up the bottom inch lets it drink without all the damage. Tbh, I learned this the hard way when my lilacs wilted super fast. A sharp knife works way better for woody stems in the long run.