The holiday season is that special time of year when family, friends, and neighbors come together to celebrate the conclusion of a year in peace and fellowship. December, specifically, is a great month for holiday horticulture; an entire month dedicated to decorating your house with various plants to celebrate life and joy. Evergreens, holly, mistletoe, cyclamen, and holiday cacti are just a few of the many choices available during this time of year.
A favorite holiday tradition is the exchanging of gifts, and each year, receive plants such as Poinsettias, Amaryllis, or holiday cacti. These bright and beautiful showy plants help to liven up holiday displays and tables.
Many of these holiday plants can be around far longer than just the three months of the holiday season. With proper care and placement in your house, many will live for years. Some general care standards for most houseplants, including holiday plants, are:
- Only apply fertilizer during the active growing season, usually April through September.
- Allow plants to dry out before watering and allow excess water to drain out the bottom of the pot.
- Group plants together, or place in a gravel tray of shallow water in low-humidity environments.
- Place plants in a southern or western exposure. Most indoor lighting is insufficient for plant growth.
The following information is more specific about some holiday favorites:
Cyclamens are a personal favorite of mine. Known for their bright, showy flowers of lavender, red, white or pink, which on average, lasts for two to four months. They are a favorite of mine for their foliage, though. Cyclamens have dark green foliage with varying patterns of variegation depending on their cultivar. They do better in a 50-60oF northern or eastern exposure during the winter. The cooler temperature allows flowers to last longer. Be careful with watering as they can be easily damaged by over and under watering. After leaves fall, allow the plant to dry for six weeks, then water this will encourage new foliage to grow.
Christmas Cactus is a beautiful plant that can be a long resident in your home. They prefer a bright southern window with lots of sun and even moisture while in bloom. Once the Christmas cactus has finished blooming for the year, remove wilted and dead blossoms. When not in bloom the Christmas cactus is a beautiful houseplant for the rest of the year, apply fertilizer and continue to water, and before you know it your Christmas cactus will be blooming about the same holiday time every year.
Poinsettias, known for their colorful bracts are a holiday favorite. Traditionally popular for their red-colored bracts, poinsettias can also be white, pink, or bi-colored varieties. They prefer bright indirect light. Wilting of lower leaves is a sign of not enough water and yellowing of lower leaves of overwatering.
Remember during the busy holiday season to take care of your green and flowering friends who help to brighten your life and bring happiness to your home. A simple watering or even a new pot can go a long way to making your plants thrive, and allowing your holiday gift to grow means it may potentially be propagated into a future gift for someone special in your life.
About the author: Bruce J. Black is the University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Carroll, Lee, and Whiteside, and Boone, DeKalb, and Ogle counties. Black’s primary areas of expertise are in fruit and vegetable production, plant propagation, and community and youth garden education.