I cut them in the cool of the early morning, straight into preservative water, when no more than 2/3 and no less than 1/3 of the florets are open. Then keep them in the preservative water for a few hours in a cool place. I don't know if I'm doing anything different than you are, that's just what I do, and it works.

Jeanne

I've had some luck with using a pretty small twist of a cotton ball, dunked quickly in water and then compressed to fit into the hollow stem. First I cut the stem, hold it under the water faucet to try to get a trickle of water into the stem, and then I stop the stem with the wet cotton twist. Then I put the delph back into water or wet foam. If I use the small side stems, I don't do this, because they don't seem hollow. It doesn't work with every stem, but it does help. I read this in a flower arranging book, written by an author the National Federated Garden Club recommends. Good luck!

A good sharp clipper that will cut the stems without crushing them helps.

Jeanne