Tips For Decorating With Holiday Plants

Nurseries, florist shops and even supermarkets are full of cheerfully colorful Holiday plants this month. And these days, there is much more to choose from than just simple red poinsettias. There's red, white and pink cyclamen, forced bulbs like tulips and daffodils, stunning amaryllis, orchids, heaths and heathers, and small holly plants. Even the poinsettias aren't just red and white any more. They come in many shades of pink, some are speckled with contrasting colors, and others have interesting, wavy flower clusters. And if you live in a mild winter climate, there are even more plants to choose from, including beautiful sasanqua camellias. In colder areas, don't forget berries plants like barberry, pyracantha and hollies.

No doubt about it, the Holidays have arrived. Here are some tips and great ideas for using plants to create the most colorful and festive holiday atmosphere in your home this year. If you live in a mild winter areas, these ideas works as well on the front porch as they do indoors.

Choose a color theme. This will tie all your decorations together. White and red are obvious choices, but white and green, or pink, red and green also work great. Throw in some silver or gold if you like. Choose plants with appropriate flower, foliage or berries colors and mix and match them throughout the house. You can even carry the colors onto your tree.

Work Big and Small, Here and There. Decorations can be any size, from a huge table setting to just a simple small tree tucked away on a corner table. Group small plants around big ones. Start tall in the center and work your way out with gradually smaller plants. The more the merrier, just stick to your color theme.

Don't forget the foliage, the berries and the fruit.Get out your pruning shears and cut some branches from evergreen trees or shrubs and arrange them around the base of your potted plants. The green will help set off the other colors. While you're at it, cut some clusters of berries from hollies or pyracantha and use them as accents. Fruit from the supermarket, especially apples, cranberries, citrus and pomegranates, also looks great in Holiday decorations.

Be whimsical. Use pieces of ribbon, decorations, lights, candle anything you can think of to personalize your plants or groupings.

Add some cut flowers. Use fresh cut flowers as accents around your plants or for solitary bouquets. Again, stick to your color theme. If you're lucky, you may even be able to find some fragrant flowers like tuberose or gardenias. That will excite the senses.

Keep plants healthy and happy. You'll get the longest season of enjoyment from your Holiday plants if you care for them properly. Most important is to water regularly. The dry air indoors will dry them out faster than you think. Also fertilize lightly every week or two and watch out for insect pests.

Make certain you keep your holiday plants out of the reach of children and pets as ingestion of some types of plants can be poisonous.

Happy Holidays!