Happy New Year!   

I do hope 2011 is an enjoyable year for you.  

Now that the holidays are over and we each have at least one or two pots of

poinsettias why not practice floral arranging with something you probably have

not done before.  

In our minds, we always plan on keeping these potted plants until next year, but

somehow during the winter or early spring they just don’t make it.   Let’s try

something new.    Cut those stems and use the flowers in an arrangement

The secret to using poinsettias in arrangements is to sear the cut stems with a candle flame,

which will help keep the flowers fresh.   Poinsettias excrete a milky sap when the leaves or

 stems are broken, and you need to stop the flow of that sap to prevent vdrooping flowers.   Once you cut a stem, sear

it quickly to avoid letting too much sap drip out. The sap will boil or bubble under the candle flame.

The ends will char and this only takes a few seconds. Place the seared cut flower in tepid water to

 condition.  You’ll know within an hour if you’ve seared it correctly because the blossom will remain upright.

The stems are hollow and will absorb water after they’re seared.   Once they’re cut, poinsettias get

 thirsty, so check their water level often.  Vase arrangements, especially in crystal vases, are an excellent

way to display the cut poinsettias.  You will have anywhere from 5-10 stems of beautiful flowers (and no

extra cost) so try a creative design to celebrate the new year.  Your design should last anywhere from 1

to  2 weeks. Creatively yours,

Sharon Ware, OAGC President