We've recently seen a lot of questions regarding care & handling of seasonal greenery & evergreens, and best hydration practices. We thought we'd share some tips & tricks to keep your greens looking fresh for the rest of this holiday season! Because if you're like me... those bad boys won't be coming down until after New Year's Day.
When you first open your greens at home or in the studio, give them a fresh cut and if possible, store in water. If these are garlands or greens that can't be stored in water, it's best to keep them in a refrigerator, or somewhere cool like your garage, and cover them so they won't dry out.
Okay - so they've been properly cared for and stored, but now it's time to decorate! We asked Val, our one of our fabulous Carlsbad Sales Reps, to share her hydration tips for once your greens are up around your house or event:
"I find it best to try to keep evergreens out of the sun, but if a wreath is on the door, it’s best to spritz it well after the sun goes down - that way the reflection of sun to water won’t burn the evergreen. You can spritz it early in the morning too.
Mantle garland is super tricky because you do not want them to dry out and cause a fire when using the fireplace. It’s best to lay a drop cloth down and give evergreens a good spritz. I also find that if you spray them with Crowning Glory upon buying they will stay hydrated longer.
If you have a centerpiece with holiday greens it’s best to saturate the foam or container with water, then dry the bottom of the vessel and place back on the table.
Centerpiece repeat 2x a week
Garland repeat once a week
Wreath 2x a week."
So there you have it! It's really pretty simple, and as long as they started out fresh, they shouldn't dry out too quickly. Think about Christmas trees - once they're cut, they are transported and then sit on a tree lot out of water until they're purchased.
Good luck, and happy decorating! And don't forget to download our Garland Guide to learn about the custom garlands we offer!