The Advent season is approaching and from now on we can get into the Christmas spirit with the right decorations. Winter berries, pine cones, Christmas tree decorations and fir greens create anticipation for the celebration. But as beautiful as the arrangements made from natural materials look, they unfortunately have a certain shelf life. We have already given you tips on how you can make the Christmas tree last longer. Now we also take a closer look at the fir branches in the vase. Learn how to keep your Christmas arrangement from losing needles and greenery. With these useful tips you can look forward to the traditional Advent companion for longer.
This means the fir branches last longer
No table decoration is complete without fir greenery. The combination of berry and fir branches looks particularly attractive. The two are said to last a long time and are therefore perfect partners in the vase at the festive table. Together with bells, lanterns and a striped table runner, they form a stylish ensemble. No wonder they have been decorating the table since November.
To ensure that the decoration not only looks good, but also stays fresh for a long time, proper care is crucial. Here are some useful tips for anyone who can't resist the duo's country house charm:
Buy fresh pine branches
Similar to flowers, the durability of branches is closely linked to when they were cut. The rule of thumb applies: the fresher, the better. Plants and flowers that have been transported from one store to another or have been sitting in the supermarket at 25 degrees for several days are guaranteed not to stay fresh at home for long. That's why it's best to order the fir branches directly from a Christmas tree plant. These are cut from felled trees and transported safely packaged. Fresh needles can be recognized by their shine and slight spicy smell. When you get the pine branches, leave them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated room for an afternoon. Only then are you allowed into the warm room.
A suitable location
Ideally display them on a table some distance from heat sources such as a fireplace, radiator or sunny window. Firs love cold and are very sensitive to heat. If exposed to heat, they quickly turn yellow and lose their needles after just a few days.
Fresh water every day
Fir branches in a vase, like flowers, need fresh water every day. So either place the branches in water and change it daily, or put them in florist foam and don't let the foam dry. You can also add a few drops of glycerin to the water.
Alternatively, you can use the cut ends of the pine brancheswith candle waxseal. In this case, you can spray the needles with fresh water every three or four days and in this way provide them with important food.
Fir greens are extremely insensitive to cold – rain, frost and snow cannot harm them. Even more so - if you leave the fir greens outside for an hour a day, then you canEffectively counteract needles. This tip works perfectly when the pine branches are staged as soloists in the vase or paired with other cold-loving plants such as holly berries or pine cones.
However, if the branches are combined with other flowers (such as roses or carnations), their delicate flowers can freeze outside and then wilt inside. In this case, you should instead try to maintain a room temperature of 18-20 degrees.
Counteract needling with these tricks
Even if you still don't buy a Christmas tree, but are looking for fir branches for decoration: It's definitely worth investing in branches from the extremely durable and long-lasting Nordmann fir. The nobleman fir also remainsgreen and fresh for several weeks.
If you ventilate for 10 minutes several times a day, the cut flowers and fir branches are guaranteed to stay fresher for longer. Be extra careful that the temperatures in the room do not rise or fall too much. Every two days, spray the needles with fresh water with a little flower freshener. Also change the water in the vase every 2 days.
Admittedly, flower arrangements with pine cones and pine greenery look great, but the combination of quickly wilting flowers and long-lasting pine greenery is anything but perfect. That's why it's best to place the branches in small vases around the large flower arrangement. This means you can easily replace individual branches quickly if necessary. So that the fir branches don't look boring, you can do thisDecorate with Christmas tree decorations.
Combining fir green with other natural materials: decoration ideas
Edible arrangements in a glass bowl, on a cake stand or in a crystal vase are also possible. In the arrangement pictured above, the candle warms the oranges around it, which release their aroma into the air.
Optionally, you can replace the candle with a string of lights. It brings variety to monochrome ensembles with pine branches, pine cones and tree leaves and creates a cheerful atmosphere in no time. The vintage vase with slightly chipped paint makes the arrangement stand out better.
Mason jars are an alternative to the traditional glass vase. Small flower arrangements can be arranged there. So you can distribute the decoration anywhere in the housethe family in the Christmas spiritrelocate.
An old watering can gives the country house style arrangement the finishing touches. For example, she can welcome guests at the entrance to the house. Our tip: You can fake the frost look with artificial snow.
The combination between red roses and fir branches is considered an absolute classic in the winter season. Since the red and green color scheme automatically attracts attention, the table should otherwise be kept simple.
