by Diane Sagers

CORRESPONDENT

Something about pine boughs bring life to the winter season. They are special because of the spiny needles that refuse to go dormant to oblige the sharp coldness of the winter season. That green demands attention against a winter backdrop. Then there is the wonderful outdoorsy scent they release when they are brought indoors.

Mixing pine boughs with holly leaves, bright red berries, mistletoe, shiny balls, figurines, candles and flowers makes a winning combination. Who wouldn't want something like that on the table or mantelpiece for Christmas? Such arrangements may also include cedar, pine, fir, spruce and pinecones. Perhaps a touch of artificial snow rounds out the mixture to make it more cheerful or elegant.

Because of this, Christmas arrangements are popular gifts that people can send early to fully enjoy during the holiday season.

These arrangements liven up the Christmas season, but, like live trees, they must be properly kept. Dry pine needles are still green and may not look so bad, but dry pine needles are very flammable and the arrangement can even become a hazard. Your business then is to keep your arrangement fresh for as long as possible.

The key to freshness is the same for evergreens as for any cut flower -- water. There are all sorts of additives that proponents tell you to put into the water to keep the flowers alive. While some of these concoctions do actually help, there is no substitute for water.

Keep the flowers away from extreme temperatures. Cold may freeze delicate blooms that are mixed with the greenery and heat from fireplaces, televisions and heat grates encourage drying. The greens and flowers take up water quickly so check the water in the arrangement and frequently add more. Although the evergreen branches will last longer out of water than cut flowers, they are not invincible.

Be careful lighting candles in Christmas arrangements. The glow is romantic and enchanting, but do not light them if greenery has become brittle or dried out. Do not ever leave a candle burning in any situation if you cannot be in the room with it.

You might get away with displaying evergreen branches out of water for a few days, and outside on the door they will likely last for a long period. If you have flowers mixed in with the greenery, they must be kept in water all the time. Since they have not control over home care, most florists guarantee cut flowers for 24 hours after they leave the shop provided damaged bouquets are brought back promptly.

When you receive a bouquet, check to make sure the water container is full on arrival. Although it may have had water in it when it left the florist, spilling often occurs.

Add fairly warm water -- not hot. Living plant tissues take up warm water faster than cooler water. Thereafter, keep the container filled. Check water levels daily and add more warm water as needed.

An arrangement from a professional may have a preservative in it when it arrives or it may come as an additive. Some homemade alternatives include adding a teaspoon of sugar and a couple of drops of liquid bleach per quart of water in the arrangement. Sprite, 7-Up, and similar soft drinks contain sugar that feeds the flowers and acids that act as preservatives. Dilute the soft drinks with equal portions of water to extend flower life.

Other flowers may arrive as a Christmas gift. If you receive an arrangement of roses, plan on a shorter life span than some other flowers. They have heavy blossom heads on rather weak necks, which pop off easily or droop if they do not get water quickly enough. Sometimes florists wire the necks to keep them from drooping. If a rose wilts prematurely, re-cut the bottom of the stem at a slant, using a knife rather than shears. Put the flower in a vase of warm water. Better yet, place the whole stem in a sink of warm water up to the neck to revive the flower.

Carnations -- those lovely, sweet smelling staples of the florist trade -- have a fairly long life expectancy and go well with many other flowers. They are often mixed with various other flowers. Darker colors like red, orange and maroon have the shortest life span while white ones seem to last the longest.

Chrysanthemums usually last the longest of the commonly used cut flowers. They are versatile since they grow in assorted sizes and shapes.

If an orchid graces your Christmas arrangement, know that they can survive much longer than their delicate reputations belie. On the plant, they will live for some time. Once cut, they can still last for quite a long time if their stems are kept in water. They bruise very easily, so avoid touching them if possible.