| How to Prune a Poinsettia Posted: 19 Dec 2019 12:00 AM PST The distinctive red and green foliage of poinsettias can be seen all over during the Christmas holiday season, but these beautiful plants are often forgotten for the rest of the year. If you have a poinsettia that you want to keep healthy when the holidays are over, you will need to trim it back and regulate water, soil, and temperature conditions. By doing so, you will have attractive poinsettias made all the more so because you kept them growing yourself! [Edit]Trimming the Plant after Blooming - Wear gloves to keep from coming in contact with skin-irritating sap. When cut, poinsettias leak a milky white sap that, though not poisonous, can cause some irritation, especially for people with latex allergies.[1]
- If you get sap on you, quickly rinsing it off with water and soap should be enough to prevent irritation.
- The sap can also damage the plant itself if left on the stems or leaves for too long. If some sap leaks onto the poinsettia plant, wipe it off with a damp rag.
- Cut off the dead foliage using clean gardening shears in February or March. Trim discolored, dry, or limp leaves by making 45-degree cuts on the stem just below the leaf. Do not cut off foliage that appears green and vibrant. Some petals and leaves may fall off naturally, and you can discard them however you choose to.[2]
- Using clean shears keeps bacteria from getting into the plant, so you may have to disinfect your shears before making any cuts
- Trim the stems so that they are approximately long. Poinsettias naturally grow to be a large shrub. To keep them at a compact size during the year, you will have to cut the stems to a shorter length. Once you have cut off the dead leaves that block them, you can cut off the stems more easily to this length.[3]
- If you want larger poinsettias during the holiday season, you can leave the stems a bit longer so that they end approximately from the rim of the container they are in.
- The cut stems can be used to propagate new plants. Do this by dipping the stem in a rooting hormone and then planting this into a pot with soil.
- Prune often throughout the year to keep the poinsettias at this size. Check on your poinsettia once a month. If it has grown since the last check, trim the stems back down to or to your desired size, leaving 3 or 4 new leaves on the stems. Your poinsettia plant should have a rounded shape, with dense and compact growth. Pinch small shoots off in order to encourage bushiness.[4]
- Pinched shoots can be used for propagation.
- Stop trimming at the beginning of November. Shorter days during the end of fall and the beginning of winter cause poinsettias to begin flowering and changing color.[5] For big red foliage, you should stop trimming the plants to allow for maximum growth during this time.
[Edit]Maintaining a Good Environment for Reblooming - Water the plant regularly and ensure proper drainage. Poinsettias, like all plants, need water to grow, but they can be very sensitive to overwatering. Water the plant when the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch.[6]
- If you bought your plant in winter, it is likely to be in a pot wrapped in foil. Take the pot out of the foil in order to allow for drainage.
- Keep the plant in a sunny place with a temperature of at least . The plant should receive a good amount of light, but should not be placed directly in the sun. Avoid drafty locations where temperatures may fluctuate during the day and night.[7]
- Place the plants in complete darkness for 13 hours a day beginning in mid-September. For those characteristic bright red leaves, poinsettias need approximately 13 hours of absolute darkness per day for 8-10 weeks. Place them in a closet, under a box, or inside a cover, making sure that absolutely no light can get through.[8]
- Setting a daily alarm is the best way to remind yourself when to do this and keep you on track for beautiful plants during the holiday season.
- During the other hours of the day, the plant should receive normal lighting conditions.
- Growing poinsettias is a yearlong process that requires keeping to a pretty rigid schedule. Make sure you're prepared to stick to it for the whole year.
[Edit]Warnings - Keep the poinsettia away from pets. Ingesting the leaves and sap can lead to vomiting and diarrhea in many animals.[9]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Gardening shears
- Gloves
- Pot
- Gardening soil
[Edit]References |
| How to Make Dreidel Marshmallow Pops Posted: 18 Dec 2019 04:00 PM PST Marshmallow dreidel pops are colorful and festive treats perfect for a Chanukah party! Dreidel pops are made by sticking a Hershey's kiss to the bottom of a marshmallow, then piercing the top of the marshmallow with a pretzel stick to give it the shape of a spinning top. After making the basic form of the dreidel pops, you can decorate them by coating them in blue candy melts, then adding on the Hebrew letters so that they look like real dreidels! Because marshmallow dreidel pops require minimal cooking and are easy to assemble, they are the perfect activity to do with a child to teach them more about Chanukah and the game of dreidel! [Edit]Ingredients - 12 large marshmallows
- 12 thin pretzel sticks
- 12 Hershey's Kisses
- 1 package of blue candy melts
- 1 bar of white chocolate
[Edit]Making the Base of the Marshmallow Dreidels - Stick pretzels into the marshmallows. To begin making the marshmallow dreidels, take one of your thin pretzel sticks and stick it into the flat side of a marshmallow, pressing it into the marshmallow until it is about ¾ of the way through the marshmallow. Make sure that it is pressed far into marshmallow, but doesn't fully pierce through it.[1]
- Use short, thin pretzel sticks as opposed to large, thick ones.
- Melt a square of white chocolate. Break off one square of white chocolate from the bar, then place the square in a microwaveable bowl and microwave it for 20 seconds or until melted.[2]
- Dip a Hershey's kiss in the white chocolate. Unwrap a Hershey's kiss, then dip the bottom in the white chocolate. Only use enough chocolate to coat the bottom of the kiss.[3]
- The white chocolate will act as a kind of edible glue that will stick the Hershey's kiss to the marshmallow.
- Attach the Hershey's kiss to the marshmallow. After you dip the bottom of the Hershey's kiss in the chocolate, press the sticky side of the Hershey's kiss into the bottom of a marshmallow, the flat side opposite from the side with the pretzel. Press the Hershey's kiss against the marshmallow for around 15-20 seconds to help it stick in place.[4]
- Repeat the process of dipping the Hershey's kisses in the chocolate, then sticking them to the bottom of the marshmallows.
- Freeze the dreidels for 15 minutes. After you have finished sticking the kisses to the marshmallows, place the dreidels on a plate or a baking sheet and put them in the freezer for 15 minutes. Freezing the dreidel pops will help them set so that the Hershey's kisses stay stuck to the bottom of the marshmallows.[5]
[Edit]Making the Hebrew Letters - Melt the rest of the white chocolate. While the dreidels are in the freezer, you can make the Hebrew letters that adorn the outside of the dreidels. To start making the letters, break the remaining bar of chocolate into squares, then place the squares in a bowl.[6]
- Microwave the white chocolate in 20 second spurts, taking out the chocolate and stirring it in between each microwave session. Stop microwaving when the chocolate is melted, as over-microwaving can cause the chocolate to scald.
- Pour the chocolate into a plastic bag. Wait until the chocolate is around room temperature, then pour it into a plastic sandwich bag. You may have to scrape the bowl to get out all the chocolate. After all the chocolate is in the bag, snip off one of the bottom corners, making a small cut.[7]
- Cut off only a tiny corner, so that the bag can function as a kind of frosting piper.
- If you have a frosting piper, you can also simply pour the chocolate in the piper bag.
- Pipe the Hebrew letters on wax paper. Spread a piece of wax paper on a counter or tabletop. Hold the bag of melted chocolate in both of your hands, then slowly squeeze the bag until the white chocolate starts to come out of the snipped corner in a thin line.
- Pipe out each of the four Hebrew letters that are found on a dreidel: Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Shin. Refer to other dreidels you may have at home or pictures of dreidels online if you are unsure of what these letters look like.[8]
- Make 12 sets of the four Hebrew letters. You will eventually stick one set on each of the 12 marshmallow dreidel pops you are making.
- Nun and Gimel are similar-looking letters, so make sure to add the heel of the Gimel, which differentiates it from the more rounded Nun.
- Place the chocolate letters in the freezer. After you finish making all 12 sets of letters, put the wax sheet of letters in the freezer while you work on the dreidels. Freezing them will help the letters to harden.[9]
[Edit]Decorating the Marshmallow Dreidels - Melt the candy melts. Open the package of candy melts and pour them into a microwaveable bowl. Then microwave them for 1 minute on 50% power. Take the candy melts out from the microwave and stir for about 10 seconds. Then microwave them for 30 seconds on 50% power and stir. Microwave them one more time for 30 seconds on 50% power. Stir the candy melts for 1-2 minutes until they are completely melted.[10]
- You can also melt candy melts in a double broiler. Place an inch (2.54 cm) of water in the bottom of a double broiler, then place the candy melts in the top of the broiler. Place the double broiler on medium heat. Stir the candy melts continuously until they have completely melted.
- Add vegetable shortening if necessary. Candy melts often melt into an extremely thick mixture, so thick that if you dipped a spoon into it, the candy melt mixture would glob onto the spoon instead of drip off. If your mixture is extremely thick and hard to stir, add a tablespoon (14.7 ml) of vegetable shortening and stir until the shortening is integrated and the candy melt mixture is smooth.[11]
- Ideally, if you dip a spoon in the candy melt mixture, you want the mixture to stick to the spoon and slowly drip off.
- If your candy melt mixture is already the right consistency, you don't need to add the vegetable shortening.
- Dip the marshmallow dreidels in the candy melt mixture. Lay down a piece of wax paper on the counter next to the bowl of candy melt mixture. Take the dreidels out of the freezer and one by one, then dip each dreidel into the blue candy melt.[12]
- Hold the dreidel by the pretzel handle and dunk it in so that the entire marshmallow and Hershey's kiss base is submerged.
- After you dunk the dreidel , take the dreidel out and hold it above the bowl, letting any excess candy melt drip off. Then lay the dreidel down on its side on the sheet of wax paper. Repeat until each dreidel is coated in the blue candy melt!
- Reserve the excess candy melt.
- Let the candy melt set on the dreidels. Set aside the dreidels for about 30 minutes to let the blue candy melt set on the outside of the dreidels. If you want to speed up the process, stick the dreidels in the freezer for about 15 minutes.[13]
- Scrape up the chocolate Hebrew letters. While the candy melt sets on the dreidels, take the sheet of chocolate Hebrew letters out of the freezer. Carefully peel the letters from the wax paper with your fingers, or use a knife like a spatula to unstick the letters from the wax paper.
- Take your time unsticking the letters, as they are quite delicate and can easily break.
- Attach the Hebrew letters to the dreidels. Once you have scraped up the Hebrew letters and the candy melt has set on the dreidels, use a toothpick to transfer some excess candy melt to the back of a Hebrew letter. Then stick the letter on one face of the marshmallow dreidel pop.[14]
- Stick the next three letters on the remaining three sides of the dreidel, then carefully set the dreidel on one side and let the letters set.
- Repeat until all the dreidels have Hebrew letters on each side.
- Let the dreidels sit for about half an hour so that the letters can set. Then the dreidel pops should be ready to eat!
- You can leave off the step of creating and adding the Hebrew letters if you wish, the marshmallow pop will still look like a dreidel!
- Learn the game of dreidel and play with your dreidel marshmallow pops!
[Edit]Souces and Citations __ |
| How to Wear a Red Blazer Posted: 18 Dec 2019 08:00 AM PST Wearing red can be a dilemma! Many people shy away from this bright color, but it's more versatile than you think. Adding a red blazer to your wardrobe gives you a statement piece that will make you stand out. If you have a red blazer that you've been dying to wear but you aren't sure how, use neutral colors to make your blazer pop, keep it classy by dressing it up, or be daring and pair it with an all red outfit. [Edit]Styling Casually for Women - Wear a white blouse with dark wash jeans for a classic look. Red blazers pair well with dark colors, and they'll stand out on top of light ones. For a classic look, pair dark skinny jeans and a white shirt.[1]
- This can also be a classy look for the 4th of July.
- Try a white blouse with ruffles on the front and light wash jeans for a modern take on this look.
- Contrast your red blazer with white cigarette pants. To make your blazer stand out, wear skinny white cigarette pants and a white shirt. This look works best in the summer when the sun is out.[2]
- Add a white hat or sunglasses to complete this outfit.
- Intensify your look by wearing an all red outfit. If you want to be bold, pair your red blazer with a pair of wide-legged red pants and a red strappy top. Add red accessories and high heels to stand out even more.[3]
- Use animal print scarves to spice up your look. Warm scarves in the winter or thin scarves in the spring can add a fun accent to your outfit. Try using leopard or cheetah print scarves to liven up your red blazer and jeans.[4]
- You can also add animal print on a large bracelet or a pair of high heels.
- Prints like zebra or giraffe don't work as well with a red blazer.
[Edit]Creating Dressy Feminine Looks - Bring your blazer to work by wearing dark slacks. If you want to wear your blazer to a professional place, pair it with dark slacks and classy high heels. Wear a neutral top that goes well with your pants.[5]
- White, navy, and gray blouses look professional and will go well with your red blazer.
- Use a dark colored handbag to complete this look.
- Wear a dress underneath your blazer for a fashion-forward office look. You can pair your blazer with an office appropriate dress to look chic and professional. Either match your dress to the red of the blazer, or choose a contrasting solid color, like navy or charcoal.[6]
- Add a statement necklace and a large handbag to complete this look.
- Create an elegant outfit with all black underneath your blazer. If you want to look sleek and formal, pair your red blazer with black pants and a black shirt. Add some black high heels to wear this to an event or to the office.[7]
- Add a statement necklace or a large handbag to break up the monochromatic element of this outfit.
- Use patterned pants to dress up your blazer. Choose pants that have large patterns, like polka dots or stripes, to add an interesting element to a chic look. Try patterns that are neutral colors so they don't clash with your blazer.[8]
- Black pants with white polka dots are an instant match with a red blazer.
[Edit]Making Casual Looks for Men - Use lightweight fabrics to wear your blazer in the daytime. Pair your blazer with fabrics like cotton and linen to wear your blazer during the day. More fitted fabrics will elevate your look, so if you want to keep it casual, choose less form fitting fabrics.[9]
- Classic v-neck cotton t-shirts go well with blazers in a casual setting.
- Wear your red blazer with a t-shirt and jeans to keep it casual. A red blazer can seem like an intense piece to wear, but if you want to keep it casual, pair it with a neutral t-shirt and jeans. Relaxed jeans will give you an even more casual look.[10]
- White t-shirts will make your red blazer pop, while gray and blue will be more subtle.
- Pair your blazer with neutral colors to make it stand out. If you'd like to draw attention to your blazer, wear dark colored pants or jeans and a gray shirt or button-down. Everyone will be looking at your blazer, while admiring the completeness of your look.[11]
- Choose an oversized blazer for a streetwear look. If you are going for a fashion-forward streetwear look, buy a red blazer that is a few sizes too big. Pair it with relaxed jeans and clunky shoes to complete this look.[12]
- Roll up the sleeves of your blazer so they don't look comical, and instead look fashionable.
- Add some black cargo pants instead of jeans to elevate your streetwear look.
[Edit]Building Classy Masculine Outfits - Make your look classy with a neutral tie and light slacks. If you want to wear your blazer to a wedding or a work event, pair it with a neutral colored tie and light slacks. This way, your blazer will stand out while still looking classy.[13]
- Avoid wearing dark colored slacks with your red blazer. This can cause your outfit to clash.
- Choose an all red suit to be daring. If you're going to a formal event and you'd like to stand out, pair your red blazer with red pants to complete your full suit. Add a dark blue or brown tie and neutral shoes to bring this look together.[14]
- The shirt you wear underneath can either be patterned or neutral, so long as it goes with your tie.
- Make sure your suit is all the same shade of red.
- Stand out with a patterned red blazer. Plaid or checkered red blazers will draw attention to your outfit and will help you stand out at events. Wear a full patterned suit, or pair your patterned red blazer with solid colored khakis.[15]
- Use a white button-down to make your red blazer pop. Red on white creates a striking, head-turning look. Wear a crisp white button-down shirt underneath of your red blazer without a tie to contrast it well.[16]
- Pair this with dark wash jeans or dark colored khakis.
[Edit]References |
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