Moisture and timing are everything
Check for freshness: When shopping for holiday greenery, you can tell whether a wreath or garland is past its prime by grabbing the tip of a stem. “If it bends, it’s fresh,” Yarwood said. “If it breaks, it’s not.”
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Give Christmas trees a good dunking before they come in the house. Ask the tree people to cut about half an inch off the trunk, then go directly home and let the tree soak in a bucket of water overnight. Hose it down to add extra moisture and remove any loose needles. Use a stand with a deep reservoir and keep replenishing the water once you bring the tree inside. Christmas tree preservatives are helpful too, Yarwood said; his favorite is called Keeps It Green.
Position wreaths and garlands in a tub or bucket so that their cut edges can soak in water overnight, then use a mister to add more moisture a few times a week. Yarwood says spray-on “freshness” products like Cloud Cover help preserve cut evergreens too.
Placement is important: Keep trees and garlands away from moisture sucking heat sources and fire hazards, including fireplaces, candles or heating vents. If your front door gets full sun, keep your wreath inside until the last two weeks of the season. Otherwise, Yarwood said, “it’s going to be pretty darn crispy by Christmas.”
Remove those wrappers: Poinsettias and rosemary topiaries are common casualties, usually because of overwatering and lack of sunlight, Yarwood said. Keep them in a well-lighted room and remove their foil wrappers as soon as possible, or at least punch holes in the foil so the roots don’t drown in accumulated water. Soak the plants just once a week in the kitchen sink and let them drain before returning them to their perch. After the holidays you can replant them outside, in pots or the ground, in a sunny locale.
The most perishable: Mistletoe and holly have the shortest shelf life for holiday greenery, which is why many nurseries don’t stock them until later in December. Wait until mid-month to buy them and mist often to keep them fresh.