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 Poinsettias are available in a variety of colors
including white, pink, hot pink, yellow, peach, marbled and
speckled. These colorful parts of the plant, often referred to as
flowers, are actually modified leaves called bracts. The real
flowers are small, yellow and appear at the tip of the stem
surrounded by the bract.
Look for new places to display your poinsettia. Place a plant on a
side or serving table. Remove the foil and set the plant in a
decorative container. Try a hot pink poinsettia in a white pot or
several different colors set in a serving tray, basket, or unique
container. Add a table runner, candlestick, bowl of colorful fruit
or other decorative touches.
Dress up individual or a group of poinsettias. White poinsettias
donned with colorful berries, Chinese lantern pods and bobbles may
be all you need for an eye-catching display.
Use poinsettias as a centerpiece for your holiday meals. Place
several potted poinsettias in the middle of the table. Cover the
plastic pots with greens. Then add some colorful pepper berries,
cranberries, apples, or ornaments. Compact poinsettias like the
Princettia® poinsettia with its abundant vibrant flowers work well
for this application. Your guests will be able to see across the
table as they visit over dinner, enjoying the holiday ambience
created by these beautiful plants.
Dress up each place setting with a cut poinsettia bloom. Simply cut
the flowers off a potted poinsettia plant to the desired length.
Place it in a floral water pick, the water-filled tubes used for cut
flowers. Tuck the bloom into a napkin, set it in a small bud vase or
add a ribbon to dress it up. They make great party favors for your
guests.
Look for other ways to include these in your holiday décor. Even one
cut poinsettia flower set among a bowl of silver, gold or white
ornaments adds a nice holiday touch. Set a few cut flowers aside to
use as unique package adornments. Just secure the flower, floral
pick and all, with a colorful ribbon to the gift.
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Use cut poinsettia flowers in a vase like you would
other blooms. Even one of these large blossoms puts on quite the
display and is sure to brighten even the smallest of rooms.
Combine your poinsettia with a few greens and other
flowers. Quickly sear the cut end of the poinsettia stems to prevent
the sticky sap from leaking into the water. Dress up your
arrangement by filling the vase with cranberries, small ornaments,
or other colorful adornments.
While enjoying your holidays, a discussion on the proper
pronunciation of the plant’s name may arise. Some say Poinsett-a and
don’t pronounce the second i. Others include it and say
Poinsett-e-a? You will find both pronunciations in various
dictionaries. In other words, either one is considered correct, so
no one loses this debate.
These colorful plants are sure to brighten your spirits throughout
the holiday season, so be sure to make some space for a few
poinsettia displays.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including
the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and
Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow
Anything” DVD and instant video series and the nationally-syndicated
Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and
contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned
by Corona Tools for her expertise to write this article. Myers’
website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
[Text from file received from
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