Unlike all other fresh cut decorations,
instead of dying – they will be drying. All Magnolia Company
products are beautiful, unique home accent pieces once the drying
sequence has completed. We do not worry about shedding needles like
the majority of the products on the market today, because all of
our beautiful leaves and stems dry into a home accent piece that
adds a touch of holiday warmth and a natural element into our client’s
living spaces. In fact, we have many corporate resort clients like
the Four Seasons Hotel that use our leaves and stems in their hotel
lobbies. Our products compose a natural feel to the interiors –
and with no shedding needles. Some of the pieces that we have hanging
on our walls are over four years old and are still classic beauties.
Listed below are conditional responses that our
magnolia wreaths exhibit under different levels of sunlight exposure.
To extend the life of our products, our decorations should always
be displayed out of direct moisture.
Out of direct sunlight, the green leaves will
stay a light green color fading to a pastel green as time progresses.
In direct sunlight the green side of the leaves
will change to sandstone brown to rusty brown over time.
The Drying Sequence
In cold environments - single digits (fairenheight)
– six to eight week drying cycle. No problems with freezing.
In cool environments (average of around 60 degrees
F). Four to six week drying cycle.
In warm humid environments (average of around
78 degrees F). Three week drying cycle.
In warm dry conditions (indoor with the heater
blasting)– Ten to fourteen day drying cycle. Because our
products are made primarily from broad leaf evergreens the drying
sequence is most notable in this setting.
What
happens in this drying stage?
The leaves are alive and are transpiring the water that is left
in the stems. Once we harvest the stems from our farm, we have cut
off the leaves water supply, but they continue to use up the remaining
amount of water until they dry out. Cooler conditions slow the leaves
transpiration rates and this is why the drying sequence is prolonged.
Lisa Apen of Apenberries Garden Shop jokes with her clients that
during the initial stage of this product curing cycle the magnolia
decorations are in “The Ugly” stage. Yes, we were appalled
when we heard her describe our products that way, but we will admit
this is our least favorite of the curing stages. However, this is
just part of the natural drying cycle that we must endure for our
products to finish off into timeless, classic decorations for your
clients to appreciate for many seasons to come.
