Christmas wreaths are not ordinary pieces of decoration, but mounting metaphors that represent the circle of life. Today, people decorate these twine-laced circles with everything from candles to flowers, ribbons, and glittering ornaments. However, it is made of plant materials and as these plants and flowers lose moisture, they start drying out. A dried-out crunchy wreath wouldn’t have been a problem if it hadn’t become a breeding ground for mold, mildew, pests, and insects. As the wreath fades in quality, these bugs slip inside the tangled twines and build their colonies inside. So, Stembel recommends paying attention to the wreath quality at the time of shopping itself. If it is already a little browned, then skipping it is the best idea.
“One way to see if a living Christmas wreath is not fresh is to give it a little shake. If a bunch of needles fall out, then the wreath is most likely a few weeks old. Another way to test its freshness is to smell it. If it's fresh, it should smell like a Christmas tree that's been newly cut,” the florist explained. She added that, ideally, pine needles should be avoided because they are more vulnerable to drying out quickly. Cedar wreath is a better option. Stembel also suggested doing a “shake and fluff test” once you’ve brought home the wreath. "Remember to give your wreath a good zhush once you get home," she said. Matt Roth, owner of The Magnolia Company, also recommended sniffing the wreath to see if it smells fresh in a blog post.
Another tip that Stembel shared from her notebook is regular hydration of the wreath. She suggested spritzing and misting the wreath with a plant spray at regular intervals. "Revive the original intensity of your wreath's fragrance by lightly spritzing it with water once or twice a week," she said. Also, soaking the wreath in water is also a great way to waive off its thirst for a longer duration.
The location of the wreath also makes a huge difference, according to Stembel. She advised people to keep it away from direct sunlight. Andy Hunter, a wreath-maker, also suggested the same idea, adding that if there is too much heat in indoors, wreaths should better be hung outdoors. "We always recommend hanging fresh wreaths, swags, and garland outdoors because they will last much longer outside than in a heated home," he said in the blog post. When hanging wreaths indoors, Stembel suggested places like bedposts, sofas, mirrors, doors, and windows, as they are usually far away from extreme heat sources like a fireplace.
