December is a month filled with so many memories and traditions that I wanted to introduce some alternative Christmas plants to consider when decorating your home this holiday season. While our native Fraser fir Christmas tree may be the plant most commonly associated with the holidays, flowering plants such as poinsettias, Christmas cactus, kalanchoe, and amaryllis are welcome gifts that help add to the holiday season. Many of these time-honored plants have marvelous flowers that last for days or even weeks and, if given proper care can transform offices, public buildings, and homes.
The following tips will help in the care of these esteemed holiday plants:
- Poinsettias are relatively care-free plants; however, they prefer sunny areas and dislike cold drafts from doors or too much heat from TV’s or heat vents. Poinsettias have an ideal temperature of 60 degrees, so try to find a room no warmer than 70 degrees or colder than 50 degrees. Poinsettias dislike wet feet so water when the soil surface is dry to the touch making sure water drips through the bottom drainage holes. If you plan to keep your poinsettias, fertilize them with a water-soluble fertilizer by following the directions on the label.
- Christmas cacti prefer temperatures between 60 to 80 degrees. To successfully grow, be certain they are in well drained potting soil with adequate bright light. Christmas cacti especially dislike staying wet and will rot if kept continuously soggy so the key to success is to maintain uniform soil moisture. Watering and fertilization vary with the season. When plants are actively growing from spring through fall, water plants frequently and fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer every couple of weeks; or, use a slow-release fertilizer at the beginning of the season.
- Christmas kalanchoe is native to Madagascar and is a popular dark green succulent perennial houseplant available for sale, especially during Christmas and Valentines Day. Kalanchoe is a durable flowering potted plant requiring very little maintenance in the home or office. It has dark green, thick waxy leaves, and flowers in various shades of red, magenta, pink, orange, yellow, and white. Growing conditions for kalanchoe encompass temperatures of 45-65 degrees at night and 50-70 degrees during the day. Light requirements are somewhat flexible, utilizing bright, indirect light or full sun as the preferred choice. Kalanchoe can be damaged by over watering, so allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Fertilizer is unnecessary while kalanchoe is in flower. After flowering, shift plant to a bigger pot and fertilize every 3-4 weeks. Kalanchoes, like poinsettias, require short day lengths (long nights) for flower bud development.
- Amaryllis is a popular flowering plant for festive Christmas decor. It grows from a bulb and blooms about six weeks after planting. In recent years amaryllis bulbs dipped in colored wax mark a new trend; look for them at garden centers or online. The coating restricts root growth so plants are shorter than average and live just one season, but serious advantages include a fresh presentation style and no need for water, sunlight, soil, or a green thumb.