Urban Gardener November 2015 86th Issue

7/25/2019 Urban Gardener November 2015 86th Issue

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86thIssue Vol. 8 No. 11 ISSN 2094-1765 November 2015

Adding a Festive Christmas Ambianceinto your Dining Table

People nowadays are busydecorating their home andoffice for the holiday season.The dining room table is one ofthe most special place in thehouse as it is where family andfriends gather and where theyshare the food for a wonderfulevening of Christmas. Withthese tips, you may transformthe ambiance of your dinnertable into the festive holidayseason mood, so that yourguest could immediately feelthis very important seasonupon entering the dining area.Decorating the table for theChristmas dinner is a greatway to make the day evenmore memorable. These tipscan also be done in other placein the home or office, in orderto add a festive and playfultouch in the interior setting.Since Christmas day is fastapproaching, here are sometips on how to decorate yourChristmas table.

Decorating your table for

Christmas can be as simple oras elaborate as you want tomake it, but it can always beeye-catching and uplifting. Youmay set a budget, if you havemoney, for your decoration, butsome decorations could be asaffordable and easy as a few


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ornaments.

In general, the colors red, green, white, gold and silver are still the favorite colormotif for Christmas, and probably it will always be. However, you may opt for awintery motif, by just using white, blue, light shades of purple and thats it. You

may also add one large scented candle, with an additional ornamentalsnowflakes, little snowmen, reindeer figurines, a Santa Claus doll, colorful ormetallic balls or beads, or snowy white garlands.

One standard decoration is aHoliday Christmas Wreath,which is composed of acircular array of artificialplastic pine leaves. TheChristmas wreath is usuallylaid in the center of the table.It can be decorated with anyobject you may want to use

as a theme. If you have notheme in mind other thansomething special, you mayuse ribbons and bows,artificial metal coated ballsand plastic red berries. Insidethe wreath, place a largecandle or several tapers. The


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tapers can be the same height or differing heights. The choice is yours. Justmake certain that the flames or hot wax do not come in contact with anything thatcould cause a fire.

Cut-flowers and cut-foliage

arranged in a flower vase or with afloral foam is another option.Flowers that can be used includesred roses, white lilies,chrysanthemums, anthuriums,carnations, dendrobium orchids,with fine asparagus fern leaves,kamuning or babys breath forgreenery. A thick red Christmasribbon with gold or silver printswrapped around the vase would be

an added feature. Accessories mayinclude a miniature pineapple, gold-painted pine cones, medium siedapples, red berries, rattan fruits orother red colored palm fruits.

Another option is a tray, basket orbowl with assorted fresh fruits inseason. Fruits could be composedof pineapples, ponkan oranges, redapples, pears, dragon fruits,watermelons, melons, bananas,lanzones, and red & green grapes.The bunch of fruits are arranged inthe basket with the tall ones at theback or center and the smaller onesat the sides. This connotes a feelingof bountiful harvest and round fruitsmeans prosperity. Realistic artificialfruits will also do.

Another option is a Bowl ofOrnaments, which usually provides a simple yet elegant table decoration that willgive your table a sophisticated look. Set a glass bowl in the center of your tableand fill it with solid colored glass ornaments, metallic colored balls or ornamentsin a variety of colors. For further enhancement , line the bottom of the bowl withplastic pine needles or pine leaves, and place tea lights around the outside of thebowl.


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With these decorations, the family and your guests will surely have a memorableand wonderful evening with you, and your dining area will have an ambiance ofthe Holiday season.

The Christmas festive mood can be enhanced either by flowers with flowers or atray full of fruits to showcase the seasons abundance.

Poinsettias or Christmas flower is one of the most popular plants in the home

nowadays, because of its bright red color with various variants like white and

yellow, including variegated varieties. Also the plants last through the holiday season.


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Ideal Plants for the

Pinoy Home Christmas Decoration.

Christmas is just around the corner, and the cool Amihan or northeast

monsoon breeze is now felt every early morning and in the evening. A lot ofhome owners have started decorating their homes with Christmas decorations.Aside from the glittering Christmas trees, colorful Parols and dancing Christmaslights, live plants are great added attractions during Christmas as they provide alive colorful natural ambiance inside the living room, bedroom, and dining room.Since they are live plants, place them near source of light and water them atleast once every two days for them to last through the Christmas season. Withthese plants, usually with theme shades of red and green, plus an addedadornment with an appropriate flat knotted ribbon, is a perfect Christmas plantdcor. Here are 10 ideal plants as Christmas decorations for the home.

1. Poinsettia. Also known as Christmas plant, this gorgeous plant comes

with the red modified foliage, but other colors like pink, white and

variegated varieties are now available in the market. They also comes in

the small, medium and large potted sizes, and are perfect display in the

doorway, and living room.


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Red Aglaonema Christmas Cactus

2. Red Aglaonema. Agaonema hybrids, especially with the red leaves, are

perfect decorations during Christmas as they are well adapted to shadedareas inside the home. Wipe leaves with soft clean cloth or cotton to

remove dust which gathers over time. They are one of the most durable

and perfect indoor plants around.

3. Christmas cactus. These plants are colorful displays as they have pink,

red or white flowers. They are actually jungle cacti, which is easy to

propagate and grow. Place them near windows on top of tables or as a

hanging plant. Water them every 3-4 days and remove wilted flowers.

Bromeliadss of different varieties are excellent Christmas dcor.

4. Bromeliads.There are many genera, species and varieties in bromeliads.

They are closely related to pineapples, and comes in a lot of varieties,

from leaf color and flower color. They are deal plants to be placed in

corners or centers. Let water stay in their centers for humidity but replace

the water every three days to prevent mosquito wrigglers from thriving. Be

careful with other varieties as they have thorns on the side of the leaves.


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5. Red Tillandsia lonantha. The Tillandsia are plants similar to the

bromeliad and pineapple, except that they are air plants and do not needsoil. They are usually attached to a piece of wood. Choose the ones with

the reddish leaves. Just spray them with water everyday.

Potted Chrysanthemums Phalenopsis orchids

6. Chrysanthemums. Potted Chrysanthemums are one of the most

floriferous group of plants for the Christmas season, as they provide a

variety of very colorful flowers which lasts for weeks. They are best

displayed in the living room to create a very colorful and cheerful

ambiance to guests. Water the plants every two days to prevent wilting

and for optimum growth.


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7. Orchids. Orchid plants like Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobiums,

Oncidiums, Cymbidiums and some Vandas are ideal exotic flowering

plants for the Christmas season as some are long lasting and provide a

particular fragrance. Water them thoroughly once every two days for

optimum growth and to prevent wilting. If the flowers have dried off,

replace with new plants.

Cattleya orchids are excellent Christmas plant decorations.

8. Red Anthurium. The Anthurium or flamingo flower is a another long

lasting and less maintained plants inside the home as they are adapted toshaded areas. Choose plants with lots of medium-sized flowers. Water

them once a day to prevent wilting. They are usually placed in corners.

Anthuriums Roses


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The Urban Gardener is an official electronic publication (in PDF Format) of the Plant

Biotechnology Project, Research & Development Center, Rizal Technological University, BoniAvenue, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. It is published monthly. For more information, please

inquire thru email: [email protected] or [email protected] and landline(+632) 534-8267 Local 135 or Fax (+632) 534-9710.

Edited by N.R. Bautista November 2015The Plant Biotechnology Project Committee is composed of:Alexander B. Quilang, Norberto R. Bautista, & Jovita A. Anit.

9. Flowering Bulb Lilies. Bulb lilies are another excellent large-flowering

plants inside the home, as their flowers are very attractive and prominently

fragrant. They are usually placed in center tables or side tables near the

living room.

10. Potted Roses. Medium sized and mini-roses are another attractive plants

to add as a decoration during Christmas. They come in red, yellow, pink,

and white flowers, and are continuously flowering as long as they are

cared properly. One just have to remove dry or wilted flowers and to cut

old stems so that new shoots will come out. They are very productive the

whole Christmas season. Water plants every other day. Replace plants

when they become ugly or leggy.

Do not be afraid to try different

plants as decorations or afraid

you might just kill it. You learn

to grow plants and gardening

by practically having them and

growing them. Learn the

basics on growing and

maintaining them, especially

their requirements for light,

watering, fertilization, and pest

control. With it, you develop

your passion for plants and

begin to appreciate their variedbeauty and interesting features.

It is normal at first to be

unsuccessful, but its part of

learning. In the long run, you will realize you already have a lots of plants and is now

an expert. Gardening is a very worthwhile hobby, and we are blessed with a lot of

plants in the Philippines. It is just normal for us to appreciate these wonderful green

creatures, and to display their beauty inside our homes.

Articles has also been published in Manila Bulletins Lifestyle Section

Documents

Urban Gardener November 2015 86th Issue