Holiday Plants
By Kylee Harrison
Did you receive a plant for the holidays, and now you are wondering how to care for it? Here are some popular holiday plants and basic care information.
The cyclamen is an attractive plant with heart shaped leaves often with white markings. The abundant flowers look like shooting stars and range from white to pink to red. Not only does the plant come loaded with bloom, but there are many buds capable of producing extended color for three to four months. When you get the plant give it a spot with indirect light and a cool location, 50-60 degrees. This is key to extending the flowering period as warmer temperatures result in buds failing to open.
A Christmas Cactus is adds a bright pop of color to your room. They are easy to care for and can be grown indoors throughout the year. The flowers range in color from yellow, salmon, pink, fuchsia and white or combinations of those colors. The Christmas cactus can be enjoyed not only during the holidays but will remain attractive far into the New Year.
An Amaryllis is another popular holiday plant. Botanically called Hippeastrum, meaning “horse star,” an amaryllis is easy to grow. Its bulbs are nearly the size of grapefruit and the larger the bulbs, the larger the flowers. Bulbs are sold pre-planted in starter kits. They come in a loose planting mix in pots only slightly larger than the bulb itself. The bulb is positioned halfway out of the soil. To start, water thoroughly, allow to drain and don’t water again until growth begins. The first sign of growth will be the flower bud itself as the foliage won’t develop until the flowers are opening. Once bud growth is visible, put plants on a routine. Keep soil moist, provide at least half day of bright light, and fertilize once a month. Stems grow rapidly to 12-24 inches and will produce a sequence of blooms that last about a month.
The most famous Christmas plant to gift is a Poinsettia. They do well in the home and keep their color until mid-March. The plant you choose should have dark green foliage. Light green leaves or damaged leaves indicate poor handling or fertilization, lack of water or a root disease problem. The colorful flower bracts of red, pink, white or bicolor pink and white should be in proportion to the plant and pot size.
Often holiday plants that you purchase from a store have the decorative foil around the pot. If the plant comes with a decorative foil wrapper, punch holes in the bottom of the foil to allow water to drain when you water. Never allow the plant to wilt. Keep the soil uniformly moist.
