Issues → December 2006 → Home & Garden →
Decorating with Poinsettias
Easy decorating ideas for the Christmas star
by Matthew Mead
Ice Bucket
Here's a stylish way to chill wine. Nesting plastic containers act as a mold to create a bucket made of ice. Use two graduated plastic containers, placed one inside the other with at least a 3⁄4-inch space between. Fill the gap with poinsettia blooms and water. Weight the bottom of the inside container with garden stones and freeze for at least 24 hours. Remove the containers from the freezer and briefly run them under hot water. The containers should then easily slide away, leaving an ice bucket ready for use. Fill the inside with crushed ice and submerge a wine bottle up to its neck to chill. Enjoy!
Place Cards
Just before serving dinner, personalize your table setting with place cards. Use a gold or silver metallic marker to write your guests' names directly on poinsettia bracts or leaves. Place around the table in appropriate spots.
Illuminated Winter Garden
Brighten a window with living color. Stick vials with suction cups onto the glass, then fill with water and tuck individual poinsettia blooms into each.
Table Wreath and Tablecloth
Antique ironstone makes a great centerpiece when filled with water and poinsettia blooms. In the background, the tablecloth carries a festive theme across the table. Place cut and pressed leaves and bracts between a white tablecloth and a shear fabric overlay for this look.
Candle Holders
Mood lighting lets you create an inviting atmosphere when entertaining. Set whole poinsettia blooms at the bottom of tea cups, then nestle mini-votive candles in the center of each. The light reflected off the red bracts adds to the holiday glow.
Hanging Wreath
A spectacular poinsettia wreath dangles from satin-finish floral ribbon. A wire wreath form has water vials tied to it in clockwork fashion. Fresh-cut blossoms placed into each water-filled vial complete the decorative arrangement.
Poinsettias 101
Despite popular lore, the poinsettia is not poisonous (although it may cause stomach upset if ingested). The number one holiday plant, it is sold in grocery stores, discount stores, and even on street corners. When shopping for a poinsettia, look for healthy dark-green foliage all the way down to the soil line. Examine the true flowers, located at the base of the bright-colored bracts; if these are green- or red-tipped and fresh looking, the plant will last longer than if they are covered with a yellow pollen. Avoid any plant with drooping, wilted, yellowing, or falling leaves. The poinsettia prefers indoor temperatures of 60° to 70°, but if you can keep it at 50° to 60° at night, it will last even longer. Display it in a sunny window, but don't let the leaves touch the glass. Keep the plant evenly moist, watering only when the soil is dry to the touch, and don't let it sit in water. Protect it from chills or drafts, and don't put it on top of the TV.
- The Old Farmer's Almanac All-Seasons Garden Guide
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