Cutting Hydrangeas for a Vase

I never knew there was so much to cutting flowers. There was a neighborhood event recently when the person in charge of table flowers (a landscape architect by profession) had them wilt before her eyes. She called a flower show judge who told her the correct procedure:
If possible, cut them in hot tap water (how on earth do you do this?) Immediately put them into a container of hot tap water, and immerse the entire stem. Cut either in the evening or early morning.

Early this morning I cut about a dozen of my lacecaps following this procedure and so far they look good. But the picnic isn't until 5 pm, so who knows what they'll look like then. Wish me luck!

Entlie

Put cut flowers in warm water directly after cutting/also do not cut straight line / the stems, and add a few drops of Glycerine

Ooh! Glycerine. Good idea Lavina. Where to get? Pharmacy?

Thanks for the info .. I was wondering this myself .. Also wondering how long you leave the blooms on the bush? I've got some that are well over a month old and turning white now.

I think the only way you could cut them under hot water is to let the water in the hose get hot in the sun then cut?

Lacecap Update - My lacecaps (picked on Saturday) still look good!
Entlie

Cutting under warm water means you cut them outside at a slant, strip off all the leaves that will be below the vase line and immediately put them in a bucket of water.
When you bring them in you can snip about a half inch off the end while holding it under warm running water. If you cut them in the early morning and put in water after removing the leaves, you don't have to do the running warm water thing. Trust me they will be beautiful if you arrange them in water. They do not do well in oasis unless you soak them for a very long time.

And you can mix rit dye or colored ink with the glycerine and it will color the hygrangers

Here is still another method. It is not mine and I have not tried it, someone sent it out on the neighborhood intranet.

Choose:
Look for flowers that have fully opened, they will last longer when cut.

Clip:
Snip stems early in the morning. Cut stems at an angle, above a leaf bud.
Please your stems in a bucket of cool water immediately.

Condition:
Heat a pot of water until almost boiling; remove from heat and wait 5 minutes.
Dip stem ends in hot water for 30 seconds before arranging in cool water.

Create:
Show off your hydrangeas in a rounded container to echo the shape of the blooms.
Use moist floral foam to keep stems in place if needed.

Enjoy the pretty flowers for days.

What interesting techniques. I'm making some notes for my garden files.