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Holiday Blooms
Poinsettias...make the
perfect holiday gift. And, whether you’re giving
or receiving it’s important to know how to care
for them. Poinsettias are very sensitive to cold. We
sleeve or wrap your plants to protect them as you take
them to your car. Do not leave them in an unheated vehicle,
take them quickly indoors when you get home. Poinsettias
prefer daytime temperatures of about 70 degrees and
night temperatures of 60 to 62 degrees. You should keep
plants evenly moist, water when surface dries out. Also
keep them away from cold or hot drafts. Place in a room
where there is sufficient natural light all day, but
not where the sun will shine directly on the plant.
Poinsettias are not poisonous, but should be kept out
of reach of unmonitored children and animals as they are not intended for consumption. If you
have a green thumb, you may want to try you hand at
reflowering your poinsettia next year.
Cyclamen...keep
cyclamen evenly moist from September through May. Leave
them nearly dry from June to August, so the tuber can
rest. Ideal lighting would be a sunny east or west window.
Cyclamen prefer a cool 60 to 70 degrees, they suffer
in hot dry air. Feed them from September to May with
a 15-30-15 fertilizer, do not feed in the summer. When
watering always water from the bottom, put water in
a tray & let the water be absorbed up. Do not let
the plant sit in the water any longer than 20 minutes.
Christmas Cactus...your
cactus will do best in a sunny south, east or west window,
although it will adapt to a north window. For eight
weeks in the fall, avoid artificial light at night,
high temperatures, overly moist soil & fertilizer.
Temperatures of 60 - 70 degrees would be ideal. Keep
the soil evenly moist and feed regularly, except as
stated above.
Norfolk Island Pine...Easy
to trim as a Christmas Tree! The Norfolk Island Pine
is easy to grow in rather cool conditions. It grows
slowly, so it will keep for years, but it does need
a little room to develop into a well-shaped plant. Give
it a bright location, but not much direct sunlight.
Water only when soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize
in the summer months every two weeks with one-half strength
solution of 15-30-15 fertilizer.
Anthurium...with
its lovely red, pink, lavender or white bracts, the
anthurium is a real eye-catcher! This plant will bloom
all year long. Anthurium can tolerate quite high temperatures,
and they love light. Try to keep at 64 degrees or above.
Give plenty of water in the summer months but less in
winter. Fertilize in summer, but never in winter. Repot
in March every 2 to 3 years.
Paperwhites & Amaryllis...because
your paperwhites & amaryllis don’t require
a “cooling-off” period, they will start
to grow immediately upon planting. Plant your paperwhites
in a deep pot filled with pebbles, sand or sandy soil,
placing the bulbs in about halfway. Keep them watered
up to the root crowns, being careful not to overwater.
Place your paperwhites in a cool, well-lighted place.
Within about eight weeks, you’ll have beautiful
flowers blooming. Your amaryllis should be planted in
a 4” - 5” pot with a drainage hole &
a layer of stones at the bottom to ensure good drainage.
Use a rich soil mix, planting the bulb in about halfway.
Place the amaryllis in a warm, sunny spot, watering
when the soil feels dry. As the bulb grows more active,
increase the frequency of your watering. Your plant
will flower in brilliant color for the holiday season.
To grow again next season, cut down the flower stalk after flowering, but leave the foliage as is.
Water and fertilize regularly, placing the pot in the garden during the summer. In September bring the pot indoors and let rest for 8-10 weeks.
Do not water or fertilize during this period. In mid-November restart the growing process.
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