8 TIPS FOR KEEPING CHRISTMAS GREENS FRESH LONGER
Don’t we all love fresh cut greens. They are so lush and beautiful and conjure up memories of Christmases long ago! I used to fill my home with nothing but fresh greens, but I hated cleaning up after them so I stared using a mix of great faux ones. The week of Christmas is when I bring in a few bowl arrangements of fresh greens into StoneGable and enjoy them until right before the New Year. Today we are PRACTICALLY SPEAKING about greens! Here are 8 easy and practical tips for keeping our greens fresh and vibrant during the holidays!
USE THE FRESHEST GREENS YOU CAN FIND
Using fresh greens is probably the number one thing to do to keep Christmas greens fresh during the holidays. Make sure you buy greens that are supple. If needles or leaves are dropping off or come off or break when you pull on a branch then pass them up. Only pick greens with vibrant color and a nice strong aroma.
GIVE YOUR GREENS A SOAK
Soak your greens in a bath of cold water for about 24 hours before using them. This will help them retain moisture. And moisture is the best friend of Christmas greens! I soak my greens in the garage or outside.
MIST YOUR GREENS
Put water in a mister and give your greens a daily mist. Just be careful if you are misting lighted greens or greens that have faux berries or flowers or bows because the color might run! Again, it’s all about moisture! You will see a big difference if your give them a mist!
WATER FRESH GREENS
If you have greens in oasis or water make sure to change the water VERY OFTEN! Keep the water clean. Just use plain water. Studies have shown that adding things like clorox, sugar, corn syrup or even commercial supplements have no effect on the longevity of fresh cut greens.
If you have potted greens keep them moist but not wet.
KEEP GREENS AWAY FROM SUNLIGHT AND DIRECT HEAT
Direct sunlight and heat are the worst enemies of cut Christmas greens. Sunlight and heat will dry up and burn the greens making them look faded and dry and dead! Again, it’s all about moisture! Fresh cut greens are best used away from sunlight and heat.
OUTDOOR GREENS LAST LONGER THAN INDOOR
Outdoor greens last so much longer than the ones we use indoors because our homes are so dry. Heat sucks moisture out of our greens. If you use greens inside, make sure they have had a good soak and are misted!
TOUCH UP OR REPLACE TIRED LOOKING GREENS
When your greens start to look spent and needles begin falling like green snow, touch your arrangement up with new greens. If you have fresh greens in your home longer than 2 weeks you might want to plan on replacing the whole thing unless the greens are in water.
USE AN ANTITRANSPIRANT
An antitranspirant is a spray that coats the leaves and needles of greens to trap the moisture in them. Your greens will last significantly longer with an application!
I use a product called WILT PRUF. The FDA has approved specifications for use on edible crops. Good to know!
Just follow these simple tips and your fresh cut greens will thank you with a couple of week (or more) of vibrant beauty!
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I always love the look and smell of fresh greens but end up using mostly artificial because of the mess of the dropping needles. Maybe I will try a few of your tips this year. We usually do have some fresh greens from our Christmas tree clippings so I usually save some of those to decorate with. Good idea to soak them. I think I will give that a try!
Shelley
Thank you for your wonderful tips, Yvonne! I usually start my Christmas decorating the day after Thanksgiving, if I’m hosting it, or the middle of November if I’m not. I host our Book Club’s Christmas meeting early in December and my beautiful greens do not last long after that! I will definitely try your suggestions. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Thanks for the advice, I’m going to try some of these ideas. I always make something for the front door from fresh greens but I either make it too early and it looks woeful by the time the big day arrives or I leave it too late and it’s not worth doing. It’s a fine line..
Some great tips here. I always soak my greens but I never knew about the Wilt Proof. My evergreen arrangements usually last through the season, but that might be a nice product to try! I am sharing your post over at Twitter and Facebook!
Perfect timing! I’m bringing a wreath into my kitchen today. I’m going to soak it first.
Thank you for the tips on keeping live greenery last longer. Learned some new tips.
Have a great day
I just love celebrating the seasons with inspiration from you. Thank you!
Great ideas every one! Love the look of little potted greens in the white stoneware especially. Thank you!
Thanks for such thoughtful tips–this is something we all forget to do!
This was really helpful. I haven’t used fresh greens before but wanted to incorporate them this year. Now I know what to expect. Yay!
Great Tips- will be picking up some Wilt Pruf this week. Deck the halls!
As I was reading this I wondered if Wilt Proof would work. Thanks for letting me know!
Your wreath is beautiful as is everything your creat. So glad you are sharing your many talents.
I love the stars!
Thanks for the tips! Bundle of information
Good idea to spray the greens when you bring them in
Once again you have the solution to just the questions I’m wondering about! Thank you!
Stunning. Love it all. You always inspire me.
Thanks for the tip about WILT PRUF. I’m surprised I have never heard of it, but now I know. Thank you, Yvonne!
I like the idea of soaking the greens before use. We are doing table decorations for an event and I am going to try this. Thanks
Will the Wilt Pruf diminish or cover up the scent of the greenery? I’d like to add fresh greenery indoors but would like to smell the greens too.
Thanks, Kira
I don’t think so Kira. I’ve not noticed it.
Great timing for me since I am decorating our front porch with fresh greenery today. We had some snow here in N.C as you did too I think and today is clear,cold and sunny perfect to give on the Christmas spirit. I use long and short needle pine, cedar,holly and magnolia for my outside planters with accents of pinecones and faux holly berries. Will last for at least a month as long ask remember to water the soil they are inserted into and the weather remains cool. Better get started. Thanks Yvonne for all the holiday advice and recipes.
Your outdoor decorations sound exquisite, Kathy! I’d love to decorate with magnolias!
I love using fresh greens. Thank you for the tips.
great tips! Just ordered my Wilt Pruf!
I have fixed several greens and berries arrangements on my terrace as I work from my studio and look out on that area often–also invite folks over for coffee and cake (2 at a time) during this pandemmic and we sit at a distance from each other and visit. I’ve added an old flannel shirt in buffalo check with a rough tangerine crate filled with berries and greens in a big jug. It is so festive–and when company arrives, I add a large paisley scarf on the coffee table and candles, even though it is daytime and low Christmas music on my ipad and it feels like a real holiday when I bring out the tray of cake and tea. It’s basically a no-work social (I buy the cake) and I love the feeling of normalcy in this crazy year.
Sounds so pretty Robyn! I love the feeling of normal too!