More Plants for the Holidays!
Got my first Poinsettia of the season yesterday. It’s gorgeous! Bright red and busy and it looks great sitting next to my tree (yes my Christmas tree is up already! It’s not real unfortunately, as there is a law against having a live Christmas tree in an apartment) but its lovely! While most people think of Poinsettia when look for plants to give or decorate for the holidays, there are several other plants that were just made for the holidays as well!
Christmas Cactus- Prized for their blooms, which come in shades of red, pink, and purple, they get their name from the time of year they bloom. To insure the best blooms, don’t move them once they are brought home. Like the ficus, they hate being moved and will complain by shedding their buds and flowers. From spring to fall, keep moist, but in winter, allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Potted Christmas Trees- These usually come in two types-the small tabletop trees that come predecorated, and the large floor specimens. The larger ones are almost always Norfolk Island Pines. These plants make lovely holiday decorations and can be kept as houseplants afterwards, providing they get plenty of light (a south or west window is best) and regular misting to increase humidity. Keep the soil moist at all times. They will grow to a height of 5 to 6 feet, so be sure it has plenty of room!
The smaller tabletop varieties of potted trees are actually young specimens of a variety of pines. They will not do well as houseplants but if planted outdoors after the holidays will eventually grow into a lovely pine tree.
Amaryllis- This plant is prized for its showy blossoms. They grow from bulbs that have been forced and are usually bought in the sprouting stage. They prefer bright light and moist soil during their growing period. Once the flowers fade the plant will slowly head into dormancy. Let the pots slowly dry out, remove the old leaves, and let the bulbs rest in a cool place for 10 weeks or so. Repot 6-8 weeks before blossoming is desired.
Christmas trees, amaryllis, norfolk island pine, poinsettia, christmas cactus
November 29th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
[…] Decorations From The Garden by Susan Walsh Yesterday I mentioned getting my first poinsettia of the season. Today I want to talk about other living decorations for the holidays. Last year I […]