star in a dining table centerpiece for the holiday season as
well as brighten a garden.
It’s nearing the end of 2020 and suffice it to say that
the world has changed a lot in the last ten months.
That means Christmas will probably feel a little different than it has in the past but we get to make some
new memories over the holiday season.
Here’s hoping you’re among the households whose
holiday decor is graced by a beautiful holiday plant or
even several perhaps. Let’s take a look at several of
the more popular Christmas flowers and how to care
for them to prolong their beauty.
CHRISTMAS CACTUS: Christmas cactus is an old
favorite. It is common for Christmas cactus plants to
drop a few flower buds when you get them home.
These plants resent being moved at all while blooming, much less being packaged, shipped, unwrapped,
displayed, purchased and taken home. But the majority of flower buds will be retained, and their great
beauty in shades of magenta, red, pink, orange, gold
or white makes their purchase worth it.
When they finish blooming, these plants should
not be discarded. The holiday cactus will reward you
with blooms every year for many years if grown correctly. After all the flowers have dropped, Christmas
cactuses should be given one-month rest from active
growth.
Keep the plant in a well-lit window, water sparingly
and stop fertilizing until new growth begins in late winter or early spring. An east or west window will provide plenty of light. They also will thrive on a porch or
patio in a semi-shaded position during the summer.
POINSETTIA: Poinsettias outrank all other Christmas plants combined in popularity. They are well
adapted to indoor temperatures so long as they are
not allowed to sit in hot or cold drafts. Place them
near a bright window and aim at keeping the soil
evenly moist, but never soggy wet or overly dry.
Poinsettias used to be quite sensitive to changes
from a greenhouse environment to that of a home,
with leaf and flower drop being a common problem.
However, with the new varieties available today you
can just about plan on your poinsettias looking nice
on Valentine’s Day, if you care to keep them around
that long.
CYCLAMEN: Cyclamen are ideal for those on the
hunt for a festive holiday plant that works indoors and
outside in the garden. The cool-season, tuberousroot plants can star in a dining table centerpiece in
addition to brightening a spot in the garden. The key
to success with cyclamen is to avoid over-watering.
Cyclamen need to be kept cool. A cool home interior will benefit your cyclamen as well since it’s happy
with temperatures that are around 66 to 68 degrees in
daytime and about 65 degrees at night.
Don’t toss your plants out after the holiday season
is over. Plant the tubers with the top of the tuber just
below the surface of the soil. Allow 6-to-10 inches
between each tuber. Enjoy a profusion of blooms in
garden nooks and patio pots now until late spring provided the plants are in a well-draining soil and with
morning sun or bright shade.
Cyclamen thrive in temps in the 40- to 65-degree
range and will continue flowering in the garden until
they fade as temperatures
warm up as the spring
season nears. If the temperature drops below 25
degrees, cover blooms to
protect in a freeze.
Pictured with this
week’s column is a photo
of cyclamen (taken last
Monday) blooming in the
Discovery Garden in Carbide Park. Give cyclamen
a try in the garden—it can
be worth the effort.
MOTH ORCHID: Moth Orchid, also known as the
Phalaenopsis orchid, is the most commonly available
orchid. Place these orchid plants in bright, indirect
light, away from direct sun and drafts. Orchids prefer
warm rooms with high humidity. Water sparingly and
avoid pooling water where the leaves attach to the
crown of the plant. Flowers are produced on a long
slender stalk, and will open one at a time.
The blossoms will last several weeks before dropping off the stem. Allow the stalk to yellow and wither
before cutting it off at the plant’s base. Fertilize the
orchid once a month with a dilute fertilizer, such as
a 10-10-10 or orchid mixture. When a new stem and
flower buds appear, stop fertilizing and enjoy the delicate blossoms again.
Flowering pot plants carried over from the holiday
season extend the holiday spirit. With a little care,
they will also continue to brighten any home decor
into the New Year.
Cyclamen are cool-season, tuberous-root plants that can
star in a dining table centerpiece for the holiday season as
well as brighten a garden.
PHOTO CREDIT: William M. Johnson
