New Looks for Poinsettias

Creating the Poinsettia Tree

Materials

• poinsettia plants
• scissors or pruning snips
• napkin
• pillar candle
• matches
• floral preservative
• 3 cake stands in varying sizes
• 3 Oasis Design Rings
• bamboo skewer
• greenery (optional)
• florist putty or tape (optional)
• 1 Iglu Grande Holder
• spray bottle

 

Making this arrangement is not hard; it just takes a little preparation. Gather all your materials, and read the directions all the way through before beginning. Think of it as a little assembly line. We used Oasis Design Rings on cake stands to make the tree. You can purchase the rings from a wholesale florist, or buy them online at www.afloral.com.

Oasis Design Ring sizes are 14 1/2 inches, 13 inches, and 10 1/2 inches. Most cake stands are similar in size to the rings. Aquafoam Designer Rings will work just as well and come in 11-inch, 8 1/2-inch, and 6-inch sizes. An Oasis Iglu Grande Holder was used for the top of the tree. It is 3 1/4 inches wide. If you want to make a smaller tree, use just two rings instead of three. You will still need to use the Iglu Grande Holder as a top.

Check water levels in rings daily, and add more water as needed. The Iglu Grande Holder will dry out a little faster than the rings, so use a spray bottle to mist the top of the foam thoroughly on a daily basis. If any flowers begin to wilt, recut and sear the stems, or replace with new flowers.

Create your arrangement at the location where it will be displayed, because the stands can be tricky to move once stacked. You may want to use florist putty or tape to hold them together.

Step 1: Cut your flowers, leaving stems at least 5 to 6 inches long to reach the water level in the rings. Sear the stems, and place them in a bowl of tepid water with a floral preservative added to condition and extend the life of the blossoms.

Step 2: Gently float design rings foam-side-down in water for a few minutes. Place biggest ring on the largest cake stand, and add water to the center of the ring.

Step 3: Use the bamboo skewer to make holes in the sides of the design ring. Holes should be a little larger than the stems. Do not use the flower stems to make the holes, because they are brittle and will bend or break. Make sure the hole is deep enough and at the right angle to be in contact with the water in the center of the ring. You may need to redo the hole to get the angle correct. If you like, cover the ring with a bit of greenery, such as red cedar boughs or magnolia leaves before adding the poinsettia blossoms.

Step 4: Then insert the cut and seared stems until the ring is full of blossoms. It took around 11 blooms to cover the 14 1/2-inch ring.

Step 5: Add additional water now. Do not overfill.

Step 6: Add the next cake stand, and repeat the processes above. It took 9 blossoms to cover the 13-inch ring and 7 blossoms to cover 10 1/2-inch ring. Continue in this manner. Make sure pedestals are steady.

Step 7: Mist the Iglu Grande Holder well with a spray bottle of water, and place it on the top stand. Insert flowers in the holder; it took 5 blossoms to cover it.

 

New Looks for Poinsettias
Oasis Design Rings, Aquafoam Designer Rings, Iglu Grande Holders, and floral preservative can be purchased online from Afloral.com, 1-888-299-4100 or www.afloral.com (O). Reindeer and silver ornaments were bought last year at Pottery Barn, www.potterybarn.com (O, R). Striped vases and red, clear, and opaque ornaments were bought from Pier 1 Imports, www.pier1.com (O, R). For more information on poinsettias, visit www.pauleckepoinsettias.com (M).

This article is from the December 2004 issue of Southern Living.