All About: Winter Greens
Tis the season for evergreens and it's our favorite "greenery" time of the year! When using fresh evergreens in garlands, wreaths and centerpieces, it's important to keep them fresh. Take a moment to learn how to care for them by following the steps we've laid out. These are common practices in the floral industry and we would love to share them with you. Help your winter foliage and needles have a chance to last the whole season!
How to Condition Your Greenery
Since many of these greens go without water after being cut at the farms, you'll want to condition them to rehydrate the branches. This step helps your greenery last longer. Before working with the branches, fill sanitized buckets with room-temperature water. Using a hand pruner, make diagonal cuts through the stems (this allows more water to be absorbed). You can also then gently crush the exposed end with a small hammer. Put them in water for a few hours before designing with the greens.
Make Them Last the Entire Season
After they have been cut, some varieties stay fresh longer than others in our homes. Some of our favorites are fir, pine and cedar. Spruce is wonderful for outdoors but can drop needles inside if not properly hydrated. If you’re using fresh greens in your home, remove any needles below the waterline and replenish the water often. And remember to trim - it's not just for trees! Cut any brown or aging greenery off your stems before they can make a mess.
How to Care for Greenery
Whether greenery is hung in the heat of your house or the cold air outside, these winter environments are intensely dry, and the greens have no source of moisture. Once you've conditioned the cuttings, treat them with our FOREVER GREEN spray. This seals the pores on the leaves and needles and helps the foliage retain moisture. Another option we offer is a "pixie dip” treatment to seal wreaths - this keeps them green and fresh longer so it’s great for wreaths decorating front doors and cemeteries. Fresh greenery will last indoors for about two weeks, and longer outdoors in cold climates. Display greenery out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources; mist with water daily or every other day to help the cuttings last.
Want a Fragrant Greenery?
If fragrance is your main priority, select a combination of aromatic evergreens for your garlands and wreaths. A mix of pine, cedar, eucalyptus and juniper will result in a uniquely wintery scent.
Types of Evergreens Available for Purchase at Bloom Floral
1. White Pine: Ideal for outdoor decorations, garlands, and arrangements, white pine is available across the country. Though beautiful, it's not very supportive, so avoid hanging heavy ornaments on its soft branches.
2. Spruce: This variety is good for outdoor garlands and wreaths. Take care when hanging ornaments, as the needles are sharp.
3. Eucalyptus: It dries quickly but makes attractive, scented cut arrangements and outdoor garlands. The dried leaves can be spray painted - we recommend a metallic or red!
4. Douglas Fir: A favorite cut tree, fir are also a popular choice for garlands because it creates a lot of volume.
5. Magnolia: Used in arrangements, as well as in garlands and wreaths, magnolia can be hung indoors and out. The stems will dry but retain their beautiful glossy green/terracotta tones.
6. Variegated English Holly: This one is popular in cut arrangements, garlands, and wreaths. It lasts up to 3 weeks indoors.
7. Boxwood: A lush addition to cut arrangements, boxwood is ideal for decorating indoors and out. It’s long lasting - just recut the bottom of the stem every 5-6 days to keep it hydrated.
8. Port Orford Cedar: A delicate-looking evergreen, this variety is versatile and hardy. We like to use it draped in garlands and arrangements.
9. Princess Pine: Due to its versatility, princess pine is great in garlands, wreaths, and cut arrangements.
10. Carolina Sapphire: A fan favorite. It has a light green hue and is long and airy. Perfect for indoor arrangements and additions to outdoor wreaths and pots.
11. Noble Fir: With its bluish-green needles and sturdy branches, noble fir is a long-lived favorite evergreen.
12. Juniper: This hardy, fragrant, longer-lasting evergreen is a good choice for cut arrangements and both indoor and outdoor decorations. It comes in berried varieties as well!
13. Incense Cedar: Its fragrance makes incense cedar great in garlands both indoors and out. It’s attractive golden tips can dry out and make a bit of a mess - we prefer this green in outdoor pots as it’s very “drapey” and makes a statement.
Contact Bloom if you would like to purchase evergreens for your craft projects! We will carry these varieties throughout the season in limited supplies, if you have a special request, you can always ask and we can order in different greens just for you! Also if you need a "dip" in our pixy sparkle solution to keep your greens lasting longer, just ask one of our helpful Bloom designers. We’re here to help you deck your halls and doors with the scents of the season.
Purchase spray bottles of our Evergreen Spray HERE.
