The Charm of Poinsettias in Christmas and Holiday Season

Poinsettia (botanically known as Euphorbia Pulcherrima) is one of the most beautiful gift of nature to man for the festive season. No other plant has these lovely Christmasy colors making it best suited for gifting, decoration and more. In effort to go green this Christmas, you can give the present of a a live poinsettia plant to your loved ones.

There are plenty of opinions on Poinsettia plant’s association with Christmas. While one school of thought believes it to resemble the Star of Bethlehem, the other bases itself in Mexican legend of a poor girl who offered a weed to Jesus as a Christmas present, and it blossomed into bright red colored poinsettias. Since they bloom in December, their timing makes it a holiday season favorite. Perhaps, most of the holiday season colors such as green, bright red, yellow, etc have been borrowed from poinsettias.

Poinsettia Table Centerpieces and Floral Arrangements

Burst of crimson red midst green leaves and the bright yellow flowers in the middle offers great creative options to the decorators making it the best choice for you Xmas holiday decorations, table centerpieces and more. These colors are happy, earthy, gorgeous and very festive.

But the best poinsettia arranmgent is done by grouping this plant with other plants in a large container as it is done here

Its best to club bright blooming poinsettia with delicate green leaves as its done here

Poinsettias are so striking by themselves that they stand out even in simplest of arrangement such as this one from IdeasInBlume

White pillar candles or honey colored candles go best against these gorgeous bright colors. For a simple table arrangement, arranger the bed of poinsettia with green colored leaves on the periphery, followed by the red colored leaves, and group the yellow buds in the center. The arrangement can be circular, horizontal or squarish. Use white colored table cloth which is neatly ironed. Place the pillar candles in the center or in accordance with the flower arrangement shape.

It is best to use poinsettias in table or other design arrangements only after searing their stems.

How to sear and seal the stems of poinsettia:

Light a candle.
Slice the bottom part of the stem with a sharp knife or blade and plug the oozing sap with paper towel or cloth.
Hold the cut end over the candle flame.
The sap, as it gets heated boils or bubbles over the flame.
Remove it on few seconds or when the sap does not ooze anymore.
Place the stems in your arrangements with adequate water as Poinsettias seared stems suck up more water.
If the red leaves of poinsettia and its floral area is upright and taut even after an hour, it means you have seared the stems right.If not, slice out some more part of the stem and sear it.

Some myth busting here:
No, poinsettias are not poisonous.
No, the red coloured part of the plant is not a flower but the bract like structures are its leaves.

There are so many ways in which Poinsettias can be arranged, displayed and enjoyed that a single post would not be enough. Its best left to ones creativity and aesthetics sense to make the most of the plant available to you. While it is mostly a lanky thin plant, bunching it up with other options such as plants, twigs, candles, paper, lanterns, etc, brings out its striking beauty.

BTW, December 12th is National Poinsettia Day in United States (what timing to write this post). Let me know if you have something exciting with these lovely plants and blooms. I would love to add more pictures of this festive and lovely plant.