Poinsettias have become a traditional part of holiday decorating. So gardener Allen Smith has come up with some fresh ideas on how to use poinsettias with other houseplants for a twist on this holiday classic.

Video Transcription

It’s interesting to me how a tropical plant from Mexico could become such a holiday favorite. But over the past 10 or 15 years, plant breeders have come up with lots of different new varieties of poinsettias ranging in color from white to pale pink, to bright pink to some with even variegated blooms. Now typically, these plants get dropped into a container and a bow tied around them. So why don’t we explore some new ideas for using these for the holidays. One of the most effective ways I found for using these guys is to use other house plants. Like a bromeliad it looks great with this bright pink poinsettia and you can use this after the holidays. There’s no end of the color combinations you can put together. For instance for this white theme, I use a variegated diphenbachia, a birds nest fern, and this little variegated philodendron. For a salmon theme, I use some things you might not think of like this dark or red leaf rubber plant. And I’ve chosen a Kalanchoe of the same color tone and a dresina for textural contrast. If you decide to try this, make sure you line the basket with plastics and to finish it off, you can cover the tops of the pots with sheet mulch. The main idea here is to just have fun and use your imagination. There a lot of combinations out there to try. From the garden, I’m Allen Smith.