By Gina Story
It ’ s that time of year when there is a little bit of bite in the air and in all the stores music about Santa Claus , reindeer and Christmas joy begins to lull shoppers into a festive mood . It ’ s also the time of year when many Pulaski County residents feel the need to decorate their homes to bring warmth and holiday cheer to everyday life .
Don and Brenda England are co-owners of Simply the Best in Grand Central Shopping Center in Somerset and have been helping patrons add festive touches to their home since 1994 and they ’ ve learned a lot about how to put a home ’ s best foot forward .
Poinsettias Potted poinsettias are the most sold potted plant in the country . During their peak selling season around the holidays more of these plants are sold than any other plant any other time of year .
“ I think it ’ s because of the festive colors ,” Brenda England said . “ Everybody wants that splash of red color and in the wintertime there ’ s not a lot of plants in bloom .”
Poinsettias come in a variety of sizes and colors , such as rose poinsettias , which are larger than their traditional counterparts . The blooms on the flowers also come in different color variations that make them stand out from traditional blooms that are red or white . Popular color variations are the candy cane poinsettias which are red and white striped and the fairly new jingle bell poinsettias which are pink and red striped .
While poinsettias are primarily seen during the late fall and winter months that doesn ’ t mean they like the cold . Brenda England said that the plants prefer temperatures from 65 to 75 degrees .
“ They don ’ t like being put near a door where there are cold drafts ,” Brenda England said . “ They like bright , more indirect light . They don ’ t do as well near a sunny window .”
Brenda England said taking care of a poinsettia so that it lasts through the holiday season starts as soon as the plant is purchased . She said that the plants should not be transported in the open air of the back of a pickup truck because of the wind and the temperatures . Once arriving home with the plant , owners should remove the plastic sleeve and immediately check to see if the plant needs water by lightly pushing a finger into the soil . Those looking to make their poinsettias last as long as possible should be careful about how much water the plant gets .
“ Overwatering is the number one reason they don ’ t live ,” Brenda England said . “ They don ’ t need to stand in water if there ’ s water in the tray [ under the plant ] you need to pour it out .”
If the plant ’ s leaves start to turn yellow and fall off that is a sign that the plant has been overwatered . It is also important where the plant is watered . Poinsettias do not fare well if their leaves or blooms are watered , therefore caregivers should be very careful to water only the soil the plant is in .
Poinsettias are also meant to remain potted . If cut for a flower arrangement the blooms may only last a day and begin to secrete a milk-like substance .
“ They are not a cut flower ,” Brenda England said . “ They are a potted plant .”
Holiday décor
Poinsettias are just one of the traditional items used to decorate homes . According to Brenda England most of her customers come in looking for traditional holiday decorations .
“ I see a lot of very traditional reds , greens and plaids ,” Brenda England said . “ We ’ re also seeing some natural decorations like pinecones and flannel ribbons .”
Brenda England said that one of the newest trends she ’ s seeing is a leaning toward the idea of less is more .
“ Used to people would want to do their dining table and their buffet as well as their mantle ,” she said . “ I think in the last two years people have mostly concentrated on their front doors and mantle .”
One of the most traditional front door decorations is a holiday wreath . According to Brenda England wreaths should be 24 inches to 30 inches depending on the size of the door . Other ways to make a dramatic entrance is to add garland around the door to match the wreath . She also suggests putting potted Norfolk pine trees on each side of the door decorated with Christmas lights to make a big impact .
When it comes to decorating a mantel , Brenda England says safety is a primary concern . Fresh cut evergreen boughs are not recommended for homes where the fireplace sees much use and will likely need to be refreshed at least a couple of times during the holiday season .
Snowmen and buckets with faux snowballs add whimsy and fun to holiday decorations .
Story photos submitted
November 2022 SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky • 7