Christmas and other winter holidays bring out the desire to fill our
homes with greenery and decorative flowers. With a little extra care
and forethought, many of these wonderful plants can continue to
thrive long after December becomes just a distant memory.
Choosing a living Christmas tree is a great place to start. You can
have it indoors for the holiday season, and then enjoy it for the rest
of the year as a beautiful addition to your landscape. The trick is to
choose the right type of tree that can survive indoors for three weeks
or so, and then thrive in our soil and climate.
Some options to consider are Leyland Cypress and Arizona Cypress.
Both will grow into very large, wide evergreens so plan accordingly.
The Aleppo pines are also good drought tolerant options and look
very much the part when decorated for Christmas.
Another great living Christmas tree option is the Italian Stone pine.
It is usually sold in smaller containers as a tabletop centerpiece, but
then grows into a large, drought tolerant tree when planted into the
yard.
Hollies and asparagus fern are two other outdoor plants that look
pretty when decorated for winter and then can be planted in the land-
scape.
If you're looking for a permanent indoor or porch tree, then the Norfolk
Island pine can be a nice addition that you can decorate for Christmas
and then use as a centerpiece of your indoor greenery for the next year.
Rosemary Christmas trees are always available this time of year and
many people buy them for centerpieces in their home. However there
is a problem with this: rosemary absolutely has to be in the sun and
will crash if kept inside for more than a few days (at most). But in a
sunny spot on the porch it will thrive and then you can plant it as a
full sun, evergreen anchor piece in your landscape after Christmas.
Just make sure you give all your greenery even water while still in
the containers, and remove any decorative sleeves that prevent water
from draining (or punch holes in the bottom).
Greenery on your porch can also add to your outdoor decorations and
looks beautiful when it's decked out in lights and ribbons.
A native of Mexico, poinsettias have been an important part of the
Christmas tradition in that country for nearly 500 years. Brought into
the United States in the mid-19th century, we have enjoyed their
colorful bracts in our homes each December now for generations.
Poinsettias are typically grown for the holidays and then discarded
in January after the season is over.
If you want to keep your poinsettia growing, water only enough to
keep the leaves from wilting. Too much water (especially when
covered in non-draining metallic florist sleeves) is the biggest detri-
ment to keeping your poinsettia looking its best throughout Decem-
ber and into the new year.
After all danger of frost has passed, gradually move the pot out to a
shady location on a porch and repot into a bigger container. When
handling poinsettias wear gloves if you are sensitive to the milky
sap produced by the Euphorbia family. The sap can be an irritant to
some and can irritate a pet’s mouth if eaten.
Finally, Christmas cactus and amaryllis are two of my favorite holiday
plants. They're easy to grow and will reward you with years of blooms
with little care.
Amaryllis is a true bulb that typically bloom in the late spring. I buy
a new one every year and plant them into large mixed tubs to create
a beautiful spring display. My favorite varieties? Apple Blossom and
Papilio. Many amaryllis can be planted in the ground here and will
overwinter and multiply in all but the coldest years (then just protect
temporarily).
Christmas cactus is a succulent that will bloom the next Christmas with
just a little care. Be careful not to leave the plant in the foil sleeve it
comes in. Too much water will kill it quick! In January pot it up into
a clay pot with a good draining soil. Grow in an eastward / northward
facing location and water only when dry. Buds should start to form
again early the next December. A little organic fertilizer will help it to
bloom even stronger.
With just a little care, your plants purchased during the holiday season
can become a source of beauty into 2015 and beyond.
Happy Gardening Everyone!
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