floradania.dk 45/2011
Article:  Precious moments with plants 

When the time draws near for the home to take on its distinctive Christmas look, plants provide a quick and easy way to create a real Christmas spirit 
The Advent wreath is a much-loved and treasured Christmas tradition which may well need to be freshened up a bit.  Try something new this year, and create your own personal Advent wreath with living plants –  which, in contrast to a dry wreath of spruce or branches, represents a much smaller fire risk.  
And why not draw your inspiration from the wide assortment of miniature plants that are highly suitable for Christmas decorations?   There are several ways to approach creating a living Advent wreath, depending on your own style and temperament.   You could for example choose to preserve the classic wreath form, with the delightful Christmas plants of the season creating or forming part of the wreath on an equal footing with spruce or moss.  

Or you could also take a very simple approach and use four individual bowls or pot covers, arranged in a row or square.  Then arrange the plants in the bowls, and place the candles in them.  Beautiful and elegant in its simplicity. 

If you prefer Advent wreaths shaped like a Christmas decorations, a dish or tray can provide a really good base.  Put the plants in the dish and place the candle-holders and candles among them, and in just a jiffy, you will have created a beautiful, natural Advent wreath for those precious moments with the family. 
Picture 1 - Classic Advent wreath: 
Schlumbergera (Christmas cactus)
Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia)
Cyclamen (cylamen)
Begonia rex (king begonia)
Selanginella (spikemoss)
Picture 2 – Four in a row: 
Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia)
Cyclamen (cylamen)
Schlumbergera (Christmas cactus), 
Picture 3 - Advent decoration in a dish: 
Schlumbergera (Christmas cactus)
Rhododendron simsii (indoor azalea)
 Pilea (pilea) 
Echeveria (echeveria)
Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia)
Kalanchoe beharensis (elephant's ear kalanchoe)
Hypoestes (freckle face). 
 Notice! 
In order to separate the candles from the plants, you can place a small dish in a larger one, and place the miniature plants in the space between the dishes. Finally, arrange the candles in the smaller dish.