The short answer: give your wreath shade, airflow, and a little weekly attention, and it will stay beautiful all season, even in South Florida. I am John Palmer Payne, and I handmake every wreath at Properly Holiday here in Fort Lauderdale, so I have strong opinions about what our heat, humidity, and salt air do to a door wreath. The good news is that coastal wreaths are built for this climate. You just have to hang them smart.
First, know what your wreath is made of
Care starts with materials. A fresh greenery wreath wants moisture and shade. A dried and coastal wreath, like the ones in Driftwood and Naturals, wants the opposite: dry air, no direct rain, and gentle handling. Most Properly Holiday wreaths blend natural coastal materials (shells, sand dollars, driftwood, dried citrus, pinecones) on a sturdy base, so the coastal rules below cover most of what hangs on Florida doors.
Door placement matters most
Where you hang your wreath decides how long it stays gorgeous.
- Choose a covered or shaded door. A porch overhang is a wreath’s best friend in Florida. It blocks the harshest sun and most of our sideways rain.
- Watch the afternoon sun. West facing doors take the strongest heat. If your door bakes after 3 PM, consider an inside facing glass door spot, a shaded wall by the entry, or bringing the wreath in during the hottest stretch of a heat wave.
- Give it airflow. A wreath pressed between a storm door and a sun heated door cooks in its own little greenhouse. If you have a glass storm door, hang the wreath on the outside face or skip the storm door during the season.
- Keep it clear of sprinklers. A nightly soaking will undo any wreath, no matter how well made. Adjust the spray head or move the wreath a few feet.
Sun, heat, and humidity: the Florida trio
Our December sun is still strong enough to fade ribbon and dry out natural materials. Rotate your wreath a quarter turn every week or so, the way you would rotate a plant, so one side does not take all the light. For fresh greenery, a light misting with plain water in the morning helps on dry, breezy days. For dried citrus, berries, and pinecones, skip the misting entirely. Dry materials stay prettiest dry.
Humidity is the quiet troublemaker. If your wreath hangs in a damp, still corner, move it where air moves. Good airflow prevents that musty, tired look and keeps natural materials crisp.
Salt air, for those of us near the beach
If you can smell the ocean from your porch, your wreath can too. Salt air is gentle on shells and driftwood (they were made for it) but it can dull metal hooks and cloud glass accents over time. Every week or two, give your wreath a soft once over with a dry cloth or a cool, gentle blow dry from a distance to lift off salt and dust. Check the hanger while you are at it, and swap a rusting hook for a fresh one before it stains your door.
My Driftwood Turtle Wreath leans all the way into this life: natural driftwood, a small white ceramic turtle, and a big red bow. Pieces built from shoreline materials shrug off coastal air better than almost anything else you can hang.
A quick weekly check
Once a week, while the coffee brews, give your wreath thirty seconds:
- Fluff and straighten anything the wind rearranged.
- Snip or tuck any single tired leaf or loose piece rather than letting it spread.
- Shake gently to evict any small porch guests before they settle in.
- After a big storm, bring the wreath inside to dry fully before rehanging.
That is it. Small, regular kindness beats one big rescue mission every time.
After the season: store it like you mean it
When January rolls around, store your wreath flat in a sturdy box or wreath bag, with tissue tucked around delicate pieces like sand dollars and shells. Keep it somewhere cool and dry indoors. One Florida specific warning: skip the attic. Our attic heat is brutal on ribbon, dried citrus, and anything with color. A closet shelf is the proper home for off season decor.
Hang it well, check it weekly, and store it kindly, and a handmade wreath will greet your guests for many seasons. If your door is ready for its next one, shop handmade coastal wreaths made to order in Fort Lauderdale, and come see the collections in full. For more Florida holiday styling, my preparing your coastal home for the holidays guide and coastal holiday tablescape walkthrough are waiting for you.
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