You’ve received a bouquet of mimosa and you’d like to enjoy it for several days without it wilting? Do you have a mimosa tree in your garden and want to create a bouquet to decorate your home for a while?
I will help you.
As a florist, the mimosa is one of the iconic flowers that signifies the arrival of spring. It’s only available for a few weeks each year, in February, and it usually comes from the south of France. However, I often notice that the fear of it wilting quickly discourages those who would like to have a bouquet of it…
That’s why I’m sharing all my tips with you today for keeping those beautiful blooming branches in your home for several days!
To keep your mimosa fresh for as long as possible, cut it just before it blooms: the buds that are ready to open can be identified by their yellow color. Next, before placing it in a vase, remove the leaves from the lower two-thirds of the stems and crush them using a hammer or mallet for about 2 inches. This will help the stems absorb water better. Then, simply place your bouquet away from drafts and heat sources to enjoy it for several days.
Want to learn more? Read the rest of this article to discover:
- How to know exactly when to cut mimosa,
- How to buy a lasting mimosa from a florist,
- Details on the technique to preserve your mimosa bouquet,
- What the meaning of it is and whether it is toxic,
- And finally, tips for always having flowers at home!
When to Prune Your Mimosa Tree for Longevity?
As the first beautiful days of the year arrive, the mimosa is one of the first trees to bloom. If you’re lucky enough to have a mimosa in your yard, it’s perfectly fine to cut a few branches to create a lovely bouquet that will bring a touch of nature and sunshine into your home.
How to Identify a Branch Ready to Be Cut for a Bouquet?
The mimosa doesn’t last as long in a vase as some flowers like roses or carnations. If cut when the flowering stage is too advanced, it can even wilt within a day. To enjoy your bouquet for a few days, it’s essential to know which branches to select for your bouquet.
The trick is simple: when the mimosa hasn’t bloomed yet, its future flowers are visible on the tree as clusters of small green balls about 2mm in diameter. To cut it at the right time, it’s best that these little clusters have started to change color just slightly (leaning towards yellow) but haven’t yet turned yellow and fluffy. By harvesting the mimosa at this stage, you’ll have the chance to see it bloom in the days that follow in your home!
Is Mimosa Poisonous?
Should you take certain precautions when creating a bouquet with mimosa? As a florist, I’m used to handling this plant, and I can assure you that mimosa is not toxic when simply touched or when it is present in a room.
🛑 Please note that mimosa is toxic if ingested, except for its flowers. This means you should not consume the leaves or stem. After handling mimosa, I recommend washing your hands thoroughly to avoid any risks. Also, be sure to keep your bouquet of mimosa out of reach of children and pets.
How to Choose the Perfect Mimosa from a Florist?
If you don’t have the option to pick your own mimosa, you can always visit a florist between late January and March to try to find some. French mimosa is mostly produced in the southern part of the country, so it may be easier to obtain in those regions. Otherwise, feel free to contact your florist in advance and place an order.
👉 When choosing your mimosa from a vendor, the criteria are the same as for the tree: the flowers should be as minimally bloomed as possible and should not show any signs of browning. If you’re placing an order in advance, be sure to specify to your florist that you do not want overly open flowers. 😉
Discover the Florists’ Technique for Preserving Cut Mimosa
If you’ve ever tried making a mimosa bouquet, you may have experienced disappointment with how quickly it wilts. Indeed, if you simply cut the stems and place them in water, the mimosa will fade very quickly. So, how do florists manage to keep mimosa looking fresh for several days in their shops without it wilting?
How to Keep Mimosa in a Vase?
The secret to keeping the mimosa plant healthy lies in a combination of factors:
- harvesting at the right time, as explained earlier,
- using the correct technique to prepare the bouquet,
- and keeping it in optimal conditions.
To prepare the bouquet, the technique is simple, even if it may seem surprising: once you’ve cut the stems with shears and before placing them in a vase filled with water, you need to smash the ends of the stems with a hammer or mallet for about ⅓ of the stem’s length. This allows the stem and plant vessels to be in contact with a larger amount of water, helping them hydrate more effectively. Then, just quickly put your bouquet into the vase. 😉
👉 The shorter the stems, the easier it will be to provide water to the flowers, and the longer they will last. Additionally, remember to keep your vase filled with plenty of clear water to help hydrate your bouquet.
Which plants does this technique also work with?
The crushing technique for stems is not limited to just mimosa; it is effective on all woody plants, which are those with stems made of wood. You can identify them as they typically include trees and shrubs, which have brown, hard, and brittle stems. This contrasts with herbaceous plants, whose stems are green and easier to cut (like roses, lilies, and garden flowers…).
Here are some examples of flowering woody plants that you can cut to create a bouquet using this method:
- Lilacs,
- Viburnum (also known as “Snowball”),
- Flowering Cherry,
- Forsythia.
Lilacs / Cherry Trees / Forsythias
Where to Place Your Mimosa in Your Home to Help It Thrive?
Since this is a sensitive plant, the location of your mimosa bouquet will be crucial for its longevity. I recommend keeping it out of direct sunlight, avoiding placing it behind a window. It is also essential to keep it away from any heat sources (stove, radiator, heating air conditioning…), as well as drafts.
What Does Mimosa Mean?
Available in Italy and the USA for International Women's Day on March 8th, the mimosa is a remarkable yellow flower that conveys a positive message. In the language of flowers, it symbolizes joy and enthusiasm, as well as friendship and the affection we hold for those around us in our daily lives.
In poetry, the mimosa is often used as a metaphor for the sun: it is a bright flower that brings the hope of renewal. As such, it is often chosen as a tattoo motif to symbolize the triumph of life and joy over death, sadness, or illness.
How to Dry Mimosa?
Would you like to dry some mimosa branches? This plant holds up quite well when dried, especially the branches and foliage. However, the bright yellow color may quickly fade to a shade closer to brown.
You have several options for drying your mimosa:
- flat, in a flower press or between two heavy books, for at least ten days,
- hanging bouquet, in a room that is not too humid and with as little light as possible to preserve the colors as much as possible, for at least a month.
How to Always Have Flowers at Home?
Having a bouquet of flowers in your home is a true daily pleasure that not only adds beautiful decor but also brings a warm atmosphere to your space. Unfortunately, unless you dedicate a significant budget to purchasing flower bouquets every week from a florist, it can often be challenging to have flowers in your home year-round.
However, there are alternatives that can replace florist bouquets: in the summer and spring, you can pick flowers from your garden. It’s also possible to install a flower wall (or just a few floral panels) to brighten up a room in your home. By choosing high-quality artificial flower decorations like those available in our online store, you can bring a touch of nature into your decor, hassle-free! 😉
Finally, you can also choose real preserved and stabilized flowers, like what are called “eternal roses.” Displayed under a glass dome, they make a perfect gift for a birthday, a romantic gesture, or simply as a natural and delicate decor element. Feel free to check them out as well on our floral decor shop!
I hope this article has answered all your questions about the mimosa and that you will enjoy a beautiful bouquet of these stunning flowers for a long time! If you are passionate about nature, flowers, or decor, I invite you to check out our blog, which offers many free guides on these topics! 😉