How to keep your Christmas foliage fresh for longer
If you've made Christmas garlands, wreaths or other decorations using fresh holly and ivy, or pine, eucalyptus and mistletoe, here's how to keep your Christmas foliage looking good for as long as possible during the festive season.
1. Any fresh greenery that isn't kept in water will wilt quite quickly; two weeks is probably the limit for garlands and decorations which aren't in water. So it's best to leave creating a garland or wreath made with foliage to just a week or so before Christmas. The same applies to hanging mistletoe.
2. You can do your best to extend the time by spraying the holly and ivy with an anti-desiccant spray such as Wilt Pruf to seal the pores of the leaves and bark. The spray, which prevents water leaving the plants, is available from florists.
3. Heat will cause fresh foliage to wilt and dry out fast, so try to keep the display away from radiators, fireplaces or sunny windows.
4. Lights can also be a source of heat. If you're thinking of lighting your garlands, go for LEDs which are much cooler than traditional fairy lights.
5. If your greenery does show signs of wilting, you can replace bits of it as you go. Remove the dead bits and keep a spare stock of stems in a vase in a cool place.
6. If a wreath is on a foam base, you can soak the foam in water every few days for additional moisture.
7. Finally, spraying with a fine mist of water every couple of days can help to keep it looking fresh.
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