Can You Have Real Garland Inside?

Some people love hanging fresh wreaths for Valentine’s Day or Easter in the spring, and even summer wreaths are beautiful additions to home decor. However, the biggest challenge with fresh wreaths is keeping it from wilting. How do you keep your wreath fresh indoors? Let’s dive into the pro tips for keeping your wreath fresh indoors.

Keep it cool

High temperatures are the enemy of plant freshness. Fresh cut flowers and twigs are often shipped in refrigerated trucks to keep them fresh, and you can use the same trick with your wreaths at home. Keep your wreaths in a cool place whenever possible. Store your wreaths in the refrigerator before hanging, or in a cool basement if you have one.

Cut stems at a 45-degree angle and provide moisture

Stem treatment is very important for the freshness of your wreath. Just like fresh cut flowers, your wreath stems are where you absorb moisture, keeping your branches and twigs fresh for longer. Part of doing this is helping the stems absorb as much moisture as possible. To do this, use an old floristry trick: cut each stem at a 45-degree angle. This creates the most exposed surface area for the stem to absorb moisture and keep your wreath fresh.

Soak your wreath before hanging

A pro wreath tip is to soak the entire wreath before hanging it. We mean more than just the stems, although floating the wreath on water is a good way to pre-water the wreath. However, completely submerging the wreath allows as much water as possible to be absorbed by the greenery and keeps the wreath fresh as long as possible.

To soak your wreath, fill a bathtub with cold water deep enough to completely cover the top of the wreath as it sits at the bottom of the tub. Leave the wreath in the cold tub overnight or for up to 24 hours to absorb the water. Then shake the wreath dry, decorate with ribbon, and hang it wherever you like.

Soak overnight between hangings

You can use a similar method to keep long-term wreaths fresh. If your wreath is primarily displayed during the day, you can remove it at night and re-soak the stems to help them absorb the water overnight. Place the back of the wreath in a dish of cold water and let it soak overnight. Then, when you wake up in the morning, remove the wreath from the water and re-hang it on a door, wall, or railing.

Spray with water daily

The most popular way to keep your wreath fresh is to spray it with fresh water daily. Fill a spray bottle with cold tap water and set it to "mist" to disperse. Experts recommend that you spray the stems most carefully, ensuring that the fresh water reaches the cut and is absorbed by the wreath. If the stems become dry and woody, re-prune them so that they can absorb new moisture.

Decorators also often spray water along the branches and needles to the front of the wreath. The greenery of the wreath absorbs water slowly, but a fresh spray can slow the drying and wilting process. Not to mention keep those needles sparkling.

Spray with anti-desiccant

The trade secret for fresh indoor wreaths is anti-desiccant spray. Desiccation is the formal way of saying dry. Desiccated plants will wilt and turn brown. Anti-desiccant spray helps you combat this natural process by locking moisture into the wreath. Using this spray on the branches will help reduce the amount of moisture that occurs through the needles and stems.

Stay away from sunlight and heat vents

Direct heat is the enemy of a long-lasting wreath. High temperatures evaporate the moisture in the greenery, which speeds up drying. High temperatures can cause your wreath to wilt and dry out faster than usual, so try to keep your wreath away from warm hanging locations and hot drafts.

If you want your wreath to last, don’t hang it in direct sunlight. Also pay attention to where heat vents are and how hot air flows through your home. Make sure your wreath isn’t directly exposed to heat from nature or your furnace in the winter.