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Bloom: Giving and receiving holiday plants
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Anonymous user Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:02:02 PST
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0 responses 0 comments So you’ve received or purchased a gift plant for the holidays. Whether it is a poinsettia, Christmas cactus, paperwhite (narcissus), orchid, topiary or a variety of Christmas tree, appropriate care is important in order to keep plants alive and healthy.
For all of the plants listed above, a constant temperature will assure a greater degree of success in keeping them alive and thriving into the new year. Most potted plants mentioned above fall into the tropical category, or tend to be most happy in a warmer environment. They prefer to be kept within a constant temperature range, somewhere between 68 and 78 degrees. They do quite well indoors with indirect light, possibly in a room with a southern or western window and with good air circulation.
Poinsettias and cactus do well if watered when their soil feels dry, generally once a week. Orchids should also be watered once a week.   All of these plants should be watered in a place where they can drain, and then returned to their decorative container for display. Never water into the container without checking to be certain that plants are not left standing in water. These plants do not like to have their roots standing in water.
If you follow these procedures, and have purchased or received healthy plants, you will enjoy them through the holidays and many months ahead.
Another popular gift plant seen frequently during the holidays are topiaries. The most common topiary is made of ivy, although rosemary, thyme and myrtle are also used. These require frequent watering and good drainage. Do not let them go dry.
Topiaries appreciate being rotated inside to outside (in a covered area) every two weeks. This can be for as little as 24 hours, as the fresh air can be very beneficial to their growth.
Another tip for maintaining healthy topiaries is to mix 6 to 8 ounces of water with a drop or two of dish soap and vegetable oil in a spray bottle and spray weekly. This helps to keep aphids and spider mites from forming on your plants.
Plants used as Christmas trees, often cedars and pines, need more water and frequently. These are best watered where they can drain completely or stand in a saucer that holds 1 to 2 inches of water. Check frequently to see if they have absorbed all water given. If the soil feels dry or the water in the saucer is gone, water again.
Christmas tree plants are best displayed out of doors, but should you use them inside for decoration, keep them hydrated — especially if the heat inside the house is consistently warm. If you notice branches browning at any time, get the tree outside, water it well, and leave it outdoors. It will probably recover if you act quickly.
A forced bulb is one that is planted in a container with soil or pebbles and made to bloom in the fall or winter rather than spring or summer.  If you are using or giving forced bulbs such as paperwhite, amaryllis or scilla, remember that bloom time will be quite short. Place them in a cool area where you can see and enjoy them frequently. Their special colors and scents are brief gifts, but their memories will linger.

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