I've had mixed luck with eucalyptus outdoors too. Last spring, I tried dried eucalyptus in a porch arrangement, and at first it looked fantastic—crisp leaves, nice scent—but after a couple weeks of rainy weather, it turned brownish and limp. Switched to preserved boxwood this year, and it's holding up way better. Curious though, has anyone experimented with sealing dried eucalyptus stems with some kind of clear spray to protect them from moisture? Wonder if that'd help them last longer outdoors...
I've tried sealing dried eucalyptus before—here's what I noticed:
- Used a matte clear acrylic spray (the kind you'd find at craft stores).
- Definitely helped with moisture resistance—leaves stayed crisp longer.
- BUT... it dulled the scent quite a bit, which was a bummer.
- Eventually, heavy rain still won out, but it lasted noticeably longer than untreated stems.
Honestly, preserved boxwood might still be your best bet outdoors, but sealing eucalyptus could buy you a little extra porch time.
I've had similar experiences with eucalyptus outdoors—beautiful but tricky. Honestly, I've found dried hydrangeas hold up surprisingly well on my porch, even without sealing. Might be worth a shot if you're looking for something different...
Dried hydrangeas do seem pretty resilient, but have you noticed any fading or color changes over time? I've tried them indoors and they gradually lost their vibrancy—wondering if outdoor exposure speeds that up. Another option I've had luck with is dried lavender bundles; they hold up nicely outdoors and add a subtle fragrance. Might be another alternative if you're experimenting with dried arrangements...
I've noticed that too with hydrangeas—they start off vibrant, but after a while outdoors, mine definitely faded to a muted beige. Still pretty in a rustic way, but not the same pop of color. Have you tried eucalyptus bundles? I hung some outside last fall and they held their silvery-green shade surprisingly well, plus they smell amazing when there's a breeze. Maybe worth experimenting with if you're mixing things up seasonally...
