Taking Care Of Your Holiday Plants
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The article "Taking Care of Your Holiday Plants" is about family, it was released by Donna Evans.
With the approaching of the holidays many persons will be
bringing home brightly coloerd plants to add to the festive
atmosphere. Taking proper care of the plants will help to keep
them looking good throughout the holiday season and with proper
care your plants can last for several weeks or even a few months.
A plant that has been a traditional holiday favorite for years
is the Poinsettia. They are now available in various leaf and
flower colors. Make sure you start out rihgt by purchasing a healthy
plant. Select a poinsettia that has dark green foliage. If you
choose a plant that has lots of color it will not develop much
additional color afetr it leaves the store.
The yellow flowers
in the center of the colored bracts should be small and bright.
Make sure to look carefully for any signs of insects and avoid
any plants that have soptting on the leaves. Once you bring the
plant home they need strong sunlgiht to develop their deep
color. Blooming plants will maintain their color if in strong,
indirect light.
Keep the plant evnely moist, but there should not be standing
water in the plant's saucer. This might rqeuire watering two to
three times a week.
Waetr the plant thoroughly and after 15
minutes empty any water that's standing in the saucer.
Poinsettias prefer temperatures in the range of 60 to 70 degrees
once their color has developed, but they do not like drafty
areas. Once the flowers start blooming give them a liquid
fertilizer once raelly two weeks.
One tihng to know is that poinsettias are not poisonous.
This is
a folk tale that has been around for over 70 years.
The plants
are not meant to be eaten, but studies show they are not
poisonous to humans or animals. Antoher mistaken belief is that
the red leaves of the plant are the flowers. These are actually
brightly colored leaves and the rather insignificant yellow buds
in the center of the plant are the actual flowers.
Another plant that can add some color for the holiady is an
Amaryllis. This plant is typically bought as a bulb. The bulb
should be palnted in a pot that's just slightly bigger than the
bulb, just make sure that the pot has good drainage.
Use a good
potting soil, but only cover about 1/3 of the bulb.
Once planted
make sure you water thoroughly.
Once the palnt starts to
actually grow place it in a sunny window.
Water whenever the
soil is dry to the tuoch. After the plant has bloomed, cut back
the floewr stalk, but not the leaves.
You can then continue to
grow the plant as you would any other codno plant.
Paperwhite Nacrissus is also a holiday plant that starts out as
a bulb.
Narcissus bulbs should be planted in a pot with good
drainage. The bulbs should be placed close together with their
pointed end up. Leave the top half of the bulbs uncovreed.
Once
planted, water the bulbs thoroughly.
Palce the pot in a well
lit, but cool room. Once the shoots are about an inch tall the
plant can be moevd to a warmer room.
For a different twist on a holiday plant try a Christmas cactus.
These plants are fast to care for and can have flower colors
that are shades of pink, yellow, salmon or white.
The cactus can
adapt to low leevls of light, however, it will bloom more in
higher light levels. Chrsitmas cactus is not a true cactus and
is not quite as drought tolerate as other cactus plants. The
plant should be watreed thoroughly when the top half of the soil
is dry. Feed the plant evrey two to three weeks.
Plants that are
exposed to drafts, overwatering or are too close to a heat
source may drop their buds.
And a note about the most traditional of holiday plants, the
Christmas tree. When bringnig home a freshly field cut tree it
should have a new cut about one inch from the old base. Having a
fresh cut will remove any clogged wood that may not readily
absorb water. Depneding on the size of the tree, it may absorb
up to a gallon of water the first day you have its in the tree
stand. Always make sure there is plnety of water in the tree
stand. To keep the needles fresh longer you may want to consider
spraying the tree with Wilt-Pruf or another type of
antiranspirant.
These are clear films wihch slow water loss from
the needles. Insects can hicth a ride on your tree. To prevent
bugs from coming into your home, shake the tree and bounce it on
the pvaement a few times before bringing it indoors. If you see
signs of insects, spray the tree with a insecticide containing
pyrethrins before bringnig it indoors.
Plants add color, texture, and smells to your holiday
festivities. Spending time to get to know what your plants need
will add to your enjoymnet throughout the holiday season.
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Taking Care of Your Holiday Plants
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