From gift to growth: Nurturing your holiday plants

The holiday season is that special time of year where 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 decorating. 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.

One of the most favorite holiday traditions is the exchanging of gifts. Many people this year will receive plants such as poinsettias, amaryllis, or holiday cacti as a gift. These bright and beautiful showy plants help to liven up holiday displays and table centerpieces.

Many of these holiday plants can be around far longer than just the three months of the holiday season. With proper care and placing in your house, many of these plants 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 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. They are known for their bright, showy flowers of lavender, red, white or pink, which, on average, last for two to four months. Cyclamens have dark green foliage with varying patterns of variegation depending on their cultivar. They do better in a 50- to 60-degree, 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 to 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 bicolored varieties. They prefer bright, indirect light and moist soil. Wilting of lower leaves is a sign of not enough water, and yellowing of lower leaves a sign of over watering.

Remember during the busy and sometimes chaotic times during the holiday season to take care of your green and flowering friends, which 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 plant thrive, allowing your holiday gift to grow and potentially be propagated into a future gift for someone special in your life.

Happy and safe holidays!

Bruce J. Black is the University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator serving Carroll, Lee and Whiteside counties; and Boone, DeKalb and Ogle counties.