Simple Tricks That'll Extend The Life Of Your Holiday Greenery

Having displays of evergreens during the winter holidays can be so uplifting — with their vivid colors and crisp scents. In addition to hanging a wreath on the door, arranging greens in containers is another great way to enliven your holiday decor. Whether you gather them yourself or purchase them from a store, cut fresh evergreens look and smell great and add a lively touch of nature to your home. But how to keep these greens looking fresh through the season? There are a few helpful tricks to try for keeping indoor or outdoor displays of greens fresh, and most don't require any special skills or materials.

The tricks for keeping cut evergreens fresh are slightly different depending on whether your displays are outdoors or indoors. But one thing to do at the start is to make sure the stems have been freshly cut; this will allow them to absorb moisture more effectively, and moisture is often key to keeping evergreen displays fresh. Another important factor is to know which of your greens needs special care. 

There's a wide variety of great evergreens to choose from, and most stay fresh on their own without too much help. But some require extra water, and others may get dried out if exposed to heated indoor air. Luckily, there are some very easy methods for prolonging the vibrancy and vitality of your evergreen displays both indoors and outdoors.

Most evergreens don't need to be immersed in water to stay fresh. But it's important to know which greens need fresh water. Holly stems, for example, dry out very quickly unless they're kept in water (this is why you seldom see them included in hand-crafted wreaths). This is also true of mistletoe and English ivy (holly and ivy are a popular decorative combo inspired by traditional carols).

The lovely red holly or white mistletoe berries may drop off within several days if the stems are not immersed in water. So, if you want to use holly or mistletoe for decoration, a container of water is the best way to maintain its freshness. This may not work outdoors if the temperature drops below freezing (refresh with warm water, not hot, if it freezes), and don't use a glass or ceramic vase, which can break if the water inside is frozen.

English ivy stems also need water to stay green and fresh. If you want to use holly or ivy in your display but don't want to use a vase of water, use a 2-inch layer of sand on top of your planter or container, insert the stems and arrange as you like, and keep the sand moist by adding water every other day (add warm water if temperatures are freezing). You can also cut or buy fresh stems to refresh the display if you have access to them. 

Cut evergreens such as fir, pine, juniper, cedar, yew, and balsam will tend to stay fresh on their own much longer than holly, ivy, privet, or other evergreens that are not conifers ("conifer" refers to trees that bear cones). But even these long-lasting cut greens may begin to dry out if you don't provide moisture for them. Some crafters use glycerin added to water to make cut stems last longer, but the preparation can be time-consuming.

As described above, the easiest way to provide moisture for an outdoor display is to use a planter filled with soil medium and topped with a 2-inch layer of sand (florist or play sand works fine). You can fill the entire container with sand if you wish, but this makes it very heavy. Place your cut stems firmly in the sand and make sure they're stable. Moisten the sand every other day and, again, use warm water if your outdoor container is exposed to freezing temperatures.

Indoors, the dry, heated air may dry out your evergreens quickly (this is why Christmas tree stands have room to hold water). You can help your fresh evergreen display to stay fresh longer by misting it with water using a plant sprayer or by placing a small dish of water or a small humidifier nearby. Keep in mind that dried conifer needles can be a fire hazard.