Quick Tips for Preserving & Maintaining Live Holiday and ALL Winter decor Greenery
As the holidays twinkle closer, it’s time to deck the halls with boughs of holly (and all other things greenery) to infuse our spaces with that winter wonderland magic. Whether it's the aromatic scent of fresh pine, or the vibrant allure of a beautifully adorned wreath, nothing screams cozy Christmas spirit more than full and luscious holiday foliage. In this article, we will explore a few quick tips for preserving and maintaining your live holiday greens, as well as discuss some great ways you can incorporate live foliage into your holiday decor that will surely make you the envy of the North Pole this season!
Okay! Picture this: You, on a perfect December day. You have a cup of hot seasonal coffee in hand and are sporting your favorite holiday sweater. You’ve just picked out the perfect live greenery to spruce up your holiday decor! Now what?
Snip, Snip
Well, first things first: When you get your greenery home, cut each of the branch stems at an angle about 1-2 inches from the bottom; then crush the ends with a mallet or hammer. Crushing the end of the stems will allow them to absorb more moisture, thus, keeping them fresh longer!
Splish, Splash, It’s Time for a Bath!
After you’ve cut and crushed the stems, fill your bathtub with cool water and soak the branches overnight. This will not only hydrate the greenery, but will also wash away any critters that may be lingering! After a day or so of soaking, remove your branches from the water and let them air dry.
Wilt Stop Anti-Transparent Spray
Once the branches have dried, spray them with an anti-transpirant spray, or Wilt Stop. This will provide a protective film on the treated greens, which locks in moisture and reduces water loss over time. The great part about this little hack is that only one treatment is required per season, so once you do it one time, you’re all set until the new year— water nice surprise!😉
Wilt Stop is available for $20 on Amazon, just click the link below!✨😊
Water You Waiting For?
Once you have placed your fresh greenery in their new homes, be sure to keep them hydrated by misting them with water as often as possible. The extra moisture will help keep them fresh longer!
IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS
As beautiful as your greenery may look in certain areas of the home, remember, safety should always come before aesthetics! Please consider these important safety tips when choosing the placement of your greenery:
Keep your greenery away from any heat sources. Not only will this prevent them from drying out faster, but in most cases, also will prevent fire hazards
Use LED lights that stay cool to the touch while in use.
I bought mine on Amazon & I’m obsessed! They are battery operated and have 8 different light modes to choose from! They also come with a small remote for easy operation, even from a distance. Check them out at the link below!✨ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HQQ5W7Z?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_TRFX8A1SKAXVY55VCJQZ&peakEvent=4&dealEvent=1&language=en-US
Do not light a candle or fire too close to your greenery
Do not keep greenery too close to electric heaters
Greens Just Wanna Have Fun!
Here are 5 fun and easy ways to incorporate live foliage into your holiday decor this season:
Make your own wreath
Use as a decorative centerpiece or table runner
Add a touch of luxury to your fire mantle or TV media center
Spruce up your stair railings.
Display on shelving or window sills
And there you have it, friends: some quick tips and tricks for preserving and maintaining your live greenery this holiday season— I hope this article helped and PLEASE 🌟🎄 don't forget to share your fresh greenery triumphs and creative ideas with us! We LOVE to see your finished products!
Wishing your family the coziest (and fresh pine scented🎄) holiday,
Kate❤️🎄