Koko News | Environment | 6 days ago

Tips for Keeping Holiday Greenery Fresh

I'veplantedthepottedmumsinthegardenandpackedawaythescarecrows-- nowit'stimetodeckthehalls.

我已經把盆栽菊花種在花園裡，把稻草人收起來了——現在是時候裝飾大廳了。

Thatmeansfillingvacantpotswithevergreenbranchesforagedfrommytreesandshrubs, hangingcedarswagsontheporchandplacingawreathonthedoor.

這意味著用從我的樹木和灌木叢中採摘的常綠樹枝填滿空花盆，在門廊上懸掛雪松花環，並在門上掛上花環。

They'lllookgreatatfirst, ofcourse, butthatthreatenstochangeasDecembermarcheson.

當然，它們一開始看起來會很棒，但隨著十二月的臨近，這種情況可能會改變。

Andsincenothingsays“TheAddamsFamily”likeahouseadornedwithcrispyspruceboughs, mychallengewillbetokeepthemfreshforaslongaspossible.

沒有什麼比裝飾著脆脆雲杉枝的房子更能代表「亞當斯一家」了，所以我的挑戰就是盡可能長時間地保持它們的新鮮度。

Thebestwaytodothatwouldbetotreatthemlikeproduce.

最好的方法就是把它們當作農產品。

Afterall, bothevergreenstemsandvegetablesareclippedfromaplant, atwhichtimetheircountdownclocksstartticking.

畢竟，常綠植物的莖和蔬菜都是從植物上剪下來的，這時它們的倒數就開始了。

Thesecrettolongevityforbothismoisture.

兩者長壽的秘訣在於保濕。

Justassupermarketsusemisterstokeepproducefresh, wecankeepholidaygreeneryfreshlongerwithwater.

就像超市使用噴霧器來保持農產品新鮮一樣，我們可以用水來延長節日綠植的保鮮期。

Ifharvestingstemsfromyourgarden, cuttheminthemorning, whentheyarethemosthydratedandtheleaststressed.

如果要從自家花園採摘莖稈，請在清晨採摘，因為那時莖稈水分最多，壓力最小。

Makecutsata45-degreeangle, whichwillprovidealargersurfacethroughwhichwatercanenter.

以 45 度角切割，這樣可以提供更大的表面積，讓水可以進入。

Ifbringingthemhomefromthestore, cliptheendofeachsteminthesamemanner.

如果是從商店帶回家的，請用同樣的方法剪掉每根莖的末端。

Thefreshcutwillremovethedried-outlayeroftissuethatwouldotherwiseblockwaterabsorption.

新鮮的切口可以去除乾燥的組織層，否則這些組織會阻礙水分吸收。

Whetherpurchasedorharvested, immediatelyplacethecutendsofyourbranchesintoabucketofroom-temperaturewaterandsetitoutdoorsinashadyspot.

無論是購買的還是採摘的，都要立即將枝條的切口放入裝有室溫水的桶中，然後放在室外陰涼處。

Allowthemtosoakforatleast2 hours (24 would be ideal) untilyouarereadytousethem.

至少浸泡 2 小時（24 小時更理想），直到準備使用為止。

Whenarrangingbranchesinvacatedplantcontainersoutdoors, moistenthesoilfirst, theninsertthefreshlycutends.

在戶外將枝條插入空置的花盆中時，先將土壤弄濕，然後再插入新鮮剪下的枝條末端。

Checkmoisturelevelsbetweenfreeze-thawcyclesandamend, ifneeded.

在凍融循環之間檢查水分含量，並根據需要進行調整。

Wreathsandgarlandusedoutdoorsareexposedtodryingwinterwinds, whichhastendehydration.

戶外使用的花圈和花圈會受到乾燥的冬季寒風侵襲，加速脫水。

Combatthatwithalightmistingtwoorthreetimesaweek.

每週噴灑兩到三次淡水即可緩解這種情況。

Butbecarefulnottooverdoit, asthatwouldencouragemold.

但要注意不要過度使用，否則容易滋生黴菌。

IntheSouth, heatandsunlightcanquicklyturngreenerybrown, soplacewreaths, garlandsandpotsintheshadiestavailablespot.

在南方，炎熱的陽光會很快使綠植變黃，所以要把花圈、花束和花盆放在最陰涼的地方。

Whenmakingcontainerarrangements, pushstemsdeeplyintomoistenedsoilandwatereverydayortwointhemorningorevening, whenthesunisatitsweakest.

進行盆栽組合時，將莖稈深深插入濕潤的土壤中，並在早晨或傍晚陽光最弱的時候，每隔一兩天澆水一次。

Keepingindoorgreeneryfreshisevenmoreofachallenge.

保持室內綠植新鮮更是一項挑戰。

Insertingbranchesintomoistenedfloralfoamhelps.

將枝條插入濕潤的花泥中會有幫助。

Waterasneededtokeepthefoammoist.

根據需要加水保持泡沫濕潤。

Anddisplayallevergreendecorationsawayfromradiators, forced-airheatingvents, fireplacesanddrafts.

並將所有常綠裝飾擺放在遠離暖氣片、強制通風暖氣通風口、壁爐和通風口的地方。

WillthesetipsguaranteefreshgreeneryonNewYear'sDay?

這些方法能保證新年第一天就能看到新鮮的綠色植物嗎？

Notexactly.

不完全是。

Evenwiththebestcare, twoimportantfactorsremainoutofourcontrol:theweatherandtheageofthebranchesatthetimeofpurchase.

即使我們盡心照料，仍然有兩個重要因素是我們無法控制的：天氣和購買時樹枝的樹齡。

Butkeepingthemmoistandshadedwillensuretheystayfreshforaslongaspossible.

但保持它們濕潤並置於陰涼處，就能確保它們盡可能長時間地保持新鮮。

JessicaDamianowritesweeklygardeningcolumnsfortheandpublishestheaward-winningWeeklyDirtNewsletter.

傑西卡·達米亞諾每週為《園藝周刊》撰寫園藝專欄，並出版屢獲殊榮的《每週園藝通訊》。

Youcansignuphereforweeklygardeningtipsandadvice.

您可以在這裡註冊，每週獲取園藝技巧和建議。

I've planted the potted mums in the garden and packed away the scarecrows -- now it's time to deck the halls.

That means filling vacant pots with evergreen branches foraged from my trees and shrubs, hanging cedar swags on the porch and placing a wreath on the door.

They'll look great at first, of course, but that threatens to change as December marches on.

And since nothing says “The Addams Family” like a house adorned with crispy spruce boughs, my challenge will be to keep them fresh for as long as possible.

The best way to do that would be to treat them like produce.

After all, both evergreen stems and vegetables are clipped from a plant, at which time their countdown clocks start ticking.

The secret to longevity for both is moisture.

Just as supermarkets use misters to keep produce fresh, we can keep holiday greenery fresh longer with water.

If harvesting stems from your garden, cut them in the morning, when they are the most hydrated and the least stressed.

Make cuts at a 45-degree angle, which will provide a larger surface through which water can enter.

If bringing them home from the store, clip the end of each stem in the same manner.

The fresh cut will remove the dried-out layer of tissue that would otherwise block water absorption.

Whether purchased or harvested, immediately place the cut ends of your branches into a bucket of room-temperature water and set it outdoors in a shady spot.

Allow them to soak for at least 2 hours (24 would be ideal) until you are ready to use them.

When arranging branches in vacated plant containers outdoors, moisten the soil first, then insert the freshly cut ends.

Check moisture levels between freeze-thaw cycles and amend, if needed.

Wreaths and garland used outdoors are exposed to drying winter winds, which hasten dehydration.

Combat that with a light misting two or three times a week.

But be careful not to overdo it, as that would encourage mold.

In the South, heat and sunlight can quickly turn greenery brown, so place wreaths, garlands and pots in the shadiest available spot.

When making container arrangements, push stems deeply into moistened soil and water every day or two in the morning or evening, when the sun is at its weakest.

Keeping indoor greenery fresh is even more of a challenge.

Inserting branches into moistened floral foam helps.

Water as needed to keep the foam moist.

And display all evergreen decorations away from radiators, forced-air heating vents, fireplaces and drafts.

Will these tips guarantee fresh greenery on New Year's Day?

Not exactly.

Even with the best care, two important factors remain out of our control: the weather and the age of the branches at the time of purchase.

But keeping them moist and shaded will ensure they stay fresh for as long as possible.

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter.

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