Decorating with Poinsettias {poinsettia}

Poinsettias are the quintessential Christmas flower and hold a nostalgic place in my heart! Growing up, my mom always used fresh poinsettias as part of her Christmas decor. We typically had several red, pink, and white varieties flanking our mantels, sideboards, and dining room tables.

I am currently at my mom’s house for Thanksgiving and decided to surprise her this weekend with some fresh poinsettia decorating ideas. As much as I love seeing all the paperwhite inspiration each Christmas, I admittedly miss seeing our old retro poinsettia getting her fair share in the limelight. So let’s do what Justin Timberlake proclaims he did for sexy and  bring poinsettias back!

Have you ever considered using cut flower poinsettias in your Christmas flower arrangements or as stand alone flowers? Poinsettia bracts are gorgeous and one cut flower in a bud vase makes a huge impact. But there is a secret to keeping cut poinsettias looking fresh longer. The key is knowing how to sear the cut stems with a candle flame! Searing will stop the milk sap from leaking out of the plant while still allowing the stems to absorb water. When you break off a poinsettia leaf or stem hold the area excreting sap over a candle flame until it bubbles and sears the area. It will turn black in the areas where you do this, but it won’t detract from your decorating. You will know if you seared the stems correctly based on their post perk or droop. If your poinsettias begin to wilt in your vase, try searing the stem once again and return them to water. Also, you shouldn’t see a milky stream in the water. The water should remain clear.

I decided to display some poinsettia bracts in my mother’s butler pantry.  I love the adorable octagon window! My mom typically displays some empty red bud vases from Crate and Barrel so I just filled half with fresh holly, and half with cut poinsettias.

This creates an unexpected pop of cheer every time someone enters to grab a dish, wine glass, or bowl. Adding simple touches of Christmas to often overlooked areas is a fantastic way to make the spirit bright!

To create a no-fuss tablescape I used poinsettia bracts in bud vase napkin rings and placed a large poinsettia in the center of the table. Tip: To create a prettier poinsettia do not overlook the pot/container/vase you are using to display your plant. You do not have to keep the plants in their shiny sleeves and basic black pots! Here I have repotted the red poinsettia in a white urn that gives it some more interest and height.

Using just red, white, and green as your colors, you can create a gorgeous and seamless look in mere minutes.