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Poinsettias:
Introduced to the United States from Mexico in 1825 by the first
American ambassador to Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett, Poinsettias
have become a Christmas tradition. Their bright colour which ranges
from red through pink and white, sometimes marbled or streaked,
is provided by modified leaves called "bracts." The actual
flowers are the small yellow clusters in the center of the bracts.
Since a Poinsettia is very sensitive to fluctuations in temperature,
bring it home wrapped in plastic or a paper sleeve. Don't leave
it in the car while you're Christmas shopping. Once home, place
it in a warm, well-lit area away from draughts, radiators, or ventilating
ducts. Be sure to place your flowering plant in a waterproof container
or saucer so moisture won't damage your furniture.
Poinsettias do best in moist but not soggy soil. Water when the
surface just starts to feel dry. Overwatering a Poinsettia can result
in leaf wilt and leaf drop. Misting the plant frequently to keep
humidity high will prevent the edges of the leaves turning yellow
or brown.
If you feel ambitious and want to bring your Poinsettia back into
full colour for the following Christmas, cut back the stems so they're
about 20 cm (8") tall in late March or April. This prevents
the plant from becoming leggy. Give your Poinsettia a short resting
period of a few weeks and water less often. By early June with new
growth underway transplant the Poinsettia into a pot 2.5 cm - 5
cm (1" - 2") larger. Keep the plant in a sunny window
or move it outside into light shade away from drying winds. Fertilize
with Schultz Plant Food 10-15-10 and water regularly. Watch for
insects and spray with an insecticidal soap if necessary.
In September, bring the Poinsettia indoors. For the next 8-10 weeks
your plant must receive 14 hours of complete darkness each night.
Place a cardboard box over it or put it in a closet overnight. Continue
to keep the soil moist and fertilize every 2-3 weeks. When small
bracts begin to appear you can return the plant to normal light
conditions.
A recent introduction that is an attractive variation is the Winter
Rose Poinsettia whose bracts are rose-like, hence the name. It lasts
longer and takes sun, partial shade. The surface can dry out a bit
between watering.
Christmas Cactus:
This succulent houseplant acquired its name for blooming around
Christmas time. There's also an Easter cactus that flowers later.
Stems of these plants are in segments and they arch gracefully as
they mature. At the end of each stem a bright pink, red, or peach
flower forms.
When the cactus is in bloom keep the soil moist but not wet. After
flowering let the plant rest. Water less but never let it dry out
completely. Place it out of direct sunlight during spring and summer.
A new flowering cycle is triggered in fall when days become shorter.
It, therefore, needs to be kept in a room with daylight only and
no light in the evening. Fertilize with Parkwood™ Flower Food
15-30-15 during bud formation and blooming.
Cyclamens:
Cyclamens are perfect if you like to keep your home at a cool temperature
or you have a cool window that needs colour. Flowers come in shades
of red, pink, magenta, mauve, and white. Some blooms are ruffled.
Some varieties are fragrant. In all cases, Cyclamen have attractive
heart-shaped leaves with silver tracings.
Cyclamen does best in a bright east or west window with a daytime
temperature of 18°C (65°F) and an evening temperature as
low as 5°C - 10°C (40°F - 50°F). Because it grows
from a tuber on top of the soil watering from the bottom is preferable.
Simply sit the plant in a deep saucer, add water to the saucer,
and for a half hour let it draw up as much water as it needs through
the drainage holes. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with Parkwood™
Flower Food 15-30-15.
Azaleas:
Azaleas produce masses of flowers over a 4-6 week period. They like
bright light and a lot of water. Soil must not be allowed to dry
out or flower buds and leaves will drop. Misting regularly is a
definite bonus. You can keep your Azalea for a number of years by
taking it outside for the summer and placing it in partial shade.
Water regularly to keep soil moist and fertilize with Parkwood™
Flower Food
15-30-15 about every 2 weeks. Leave the plant outside until the
end of October, spray it with an insecticidal soap, treat the soil
with an insecticidal dust, and bring inside. The contrast between
the cool outdoor temperatures and the consistent warm temperature
inside shocks the Azalea into another round of flower production.
Kalanchoes:
This succulent, desert-like plant comes in cheerful shades of yellow,
pink, and red as well as white and peach. It loves sun and only
needs to be watered every 2-3 weeks. When blooming is finished,
trim the flower stalk back and keep it in the sunniest south or
west window. Chances are it will start blooming again in 6-8 weeks.
Chrysanthemums:
Florist mums are available year-round and provide colour for 2-3
weeks. For Christmas, a white Chrysanthemum is grown in a pot with
a Poinsettia to become a "Mumsettia." This is a highly
decorative plant and makes an excellent gift.
Cineraria:
The intense blues and pinks of Cineraria make it a highly memorable
flowering plant. Its daisy-like flowers contrast sharply with very
large leaves. Be sure to keep the soil moist at all times but not
wet.
Mixed Planters:
A popular gift idea is a basket or decorative container planted
with 3-5, or more tropical plants that might include trailing Variegated
Ivy, an African Violet, a Kalanchoe, a Palm, and a Prayer Plant.
Place this arrangement in bright light and water only when the soil
is dry to the touch.
Potted Bulbs:
If you didn't start your own Paperwhite Narcissus or Amaryllis bulbs
earlier in the fall, you can purchase them in tight bud or just
as they start to open. The trick to keeping the flower stems short
so they don't flop over is to hold back on the water and place in
a cool window where they last longer.
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