keeping cut lilacs from wilting

I love to bring cut lilacs in the house when they are in bloom. they smell so nice, but always, the next day and are drooping and are dead the next. I've put them in hot water, cold water, hit stems with a hammer, aspirin in water, etc and they still droop next day or the evening of the first. I remember my grandmothers lilacs, they kept for a week in water. I'm doing something wrong, but don't know what! Anyone????

Could it be too much clorine in your water maybe?
(Guessing here!)

I have the same problem. I wonder if the water needs a little sugar in it. After our winds, it is too late to have them in the house, but next year, I'll give that a shot too. I love the smell of them in the house.

Hmmm...I remember some folks using a match or lighter to burn the ends of the stems of certain cut flowers...think maybe that would help? (Just guessing here.)

I saw tip on TV... Cut an X on on the end of the stems, or smash the ends with a hammer. I've tried it and it didn't seem to help that much to me.

I went searching...

http://www.etfassociation.org/etf/home.nsf/public/D933842545442C5585256826001C7285?OpenDocument
http://www.floraldesigninstitute.com/page004.06.102.1.htm

My lilac has a couple of weeks to go before blooms.

I'll have to pick up some food for my cut lilacs next year. Thanks for the help!!

djm960, The best thing I have found for making lilacs last is smash about 1 inch of the stem, put the stems in a glass container, with one inch of rubbing alcohol in it. Leave them in the alcolhol for 3 minutes. I accidently pruned a limb off a new lilac this morning that had one of the two blooms on it. It still looks great. They should last about a week. Hope this works for you. i have done this for many years. After being in the alcohol for the three minutes put the stems in lukewarm water. Donna

What a cool trick...makes me wanna go pick some just to do that!
Have any good tips for propagating them? I took some cutting a couple weeks ago to root...they did good for about 10 days then just gave up. Will try again tho.

Great info, I quite honestly have never had this problem. People I work with swear I change the cuttings everyday, but I don't. I use filtered water from the tap and my lilacs last about one week with just adding more water.
I have propagated many of them by simply pulling up the runners at the bottom of the bush and planting them in a pot of soil and keeping it soaked for about 2 weeks, then move to their final location.

Thanks so much, I will try several of these ideas and see which works best! Mine are now in full bloom so I shall have fun tomorrow. thanks loads for everyone with all these great ideas! Doris