A staple of the English garden, the hydrangea is a dramatic, almost theatrical flower equally at home in beautiful solo bouquets such as the example pictured above, or as part of mixed arrangements.

However, the cut hydrangea - like its theatrical fellows on stage - can be a little temperamental, to say the least. But fear not, the Flower Station Team has come up with some simple, effective tips to help you preserve those beautiful blooms for as long as possible.

• Hydrangeas are ferocious drinkers, after receiving your flowers, cut the stems and submerge almost the whole stem in water – you will need a tall vase or container for this.
• When cutting the hydrangea stems, make sure to cut at a 45 degree angle. Having done this, cut about 1 inch directly up into the center of the stem, splitting it into two pieces. This will help the flower to draw water up into the stem and towards the petals.
• Once cut, place the hydrangea stems in water within 20 seconds (this prevents a sab forming that can reducing water flowing to the heads).
• As with all cut flowers, you should avoid leaving hydrangeas in direct sunlight or in a particularly warm environment.
• If your hydrangeas begin to wilt, place them head first (it is counter-intuitive, but trust us) into a large bowl of tepid water, enough to completely submerge all the petals. Leave them for an hour before removing, re-cutting the stems and spacing back (upright this time) into fresh water.

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