Who wants to work in the garden in the snow? Not me! If you've followed our posts throughout the year, you should be ready to take a break and enjoy the indoors this month. Here is a list of items concerning Holiday plant care for you instead of garden care.
- Give holiday plants such as poinsettia adequate light and water. In general, keep plants away from drafts and heat sources.
- Maintain even moisture and remove the decorative foil or plastic pot covers that can cause root rot. Water over the sink and let the water drain out completely. You then can replace the decorative covers.
- To ensure your Christmas cactus will flower again next year, keep it dry and at a temperature of about 55 degrees for the next two months.
- Real mistletoe is fatal for pets - beware.
- You still can force bulbs. Place them in a cold place for 2 months then pot them up.
- If you have a live tree for the holiday, dig the hole it will go into now before the ground freezes. It's best to only keep the tree inside for one week then plant it outside.
- Cut the boughs off your Christmas tree (after the holiday, of course!!) and use them to mulch your perennial beds.
Poinsettia are very popular this time of the year. Here are few poinsettia facts for you:
- Keep them moist but not wet. A dry plant will lose it leaves quickly and a wet plant will rot. Test your soil daily.
- They like temperatures between 65- 70 degrees during the day and no lower than 60 degrees at night.
- Place them in a sunny window. South facing is best.
- If you want to keep them year round and force them to bloom the following year, here is a link to a fact sheet from Ohio State on how to do this. Generally, these plants are composted after the holidays and new purchased the following year.
