How do I straighten my Irish bells?

Answered by John Hunt

To straighten your Irish bells, also known as freesias, you have a couple of options. These flowers have a geotropic nature, meaning they tend to grow in a curved manner. However, with a little bit of care and patience, you can easily straighten them out.

One method is to rehydrate the flowers by placing them in a bucket of water. Make sure to keep the paper wrap on to help support the stems and keep them straight. Simply place the flowers in the bucket, ensuring that the stems are submerged in water. Leave them to soak for a few hours or overnight.

During this time, the flowers will absorb water and the stems will gradually straighten out. You may notice that the curved tips start to straighten as well. It’s important to give the flowers enough time to fully rehydrate and straighten, so be patient.

Alternatively, if you prefer to keep the flowers in their delivery box, you can straighten them by flipping them over. Place the box in a cooler or a cool environment for 12-24 hours. This allows the stems to rehydrate and straighten naturally while still in the box.

It’s worth noting that the curved tips of the Irish bells may be a result of the flowers being stored or transported in a specific way. However, once rehydrated and given some time, the stems should straighten out nicely.

In my personal experience, I have found that rehydrating the flowers in a bucket of water is the most effective method. Not only does it straighten the stems, but it also helps the flowers to fully bloom and last longer. It’s a simple and straightforward process that yields great results.

To summarize, to straighten your Irish bells, you can rehydrate them by placing them in a bucket of water with the paper wrap on to support the stems. Alternatively, you can flip the flowers over in their delivery box and store them in a cooler for 12-24 hours. Both methods allow the flowers to rehydrate and straighten naturally. Remember to be patient and give the flowers enough time to straighten out completely. With a little care and attention, your Irish bells will look beautiful and straight in no time.