Keeping Holiday Plants Happy

Many people enjoy the seasonal plants that we associate with Christmas – poinsettia, Christmas cactus and amaryllis – even after the holiday season has passed.  With a little attention, these plants can be attractive for several months or even in subsequent seasons.  

All three of these plants grow best in a brightly lit, warm (60 to 75 degree) area away from cold or dry drafts.  Rotate pots a quart turn every couple of days to keep plants from bending towards the source of light.  Like most houseplants, be careful not to overwater poinsettia, Christmas cactus or amaryllis.  If these plants are kept too wet, the roots will rot.  Water plants only when the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch and the container feels light when lifted.

Water plants in the sink with room temperature water.  Remove pots from their saucers or foil wrappers before watering and water until it begins to drain out the bottom of the pot.  Allow the plant to drain for several minutes before returning it to its saucer or wrapping and its normal location.  Don’t allow water to stand in saucers or foil wrappers between waterings.  If your water is fluoridated, allow it to stand overnight before using it to water your plants.  Also, don’t use water treated by a water softener because it contains sodium which can harm plant roots.
Some plants keep better from one year to the next than others.  Poinsettia rarely look as nice in their second season as they did their first.  For most people, it makes more sense to compost poinsettias when they start to look ragged and buy new ones next Christmas.  On the other hand, Christmas cactus and amaryllis often get better year after year. 

When your Christmas cactus finishes blooming, pinch a few segments off the end of each branch to encourage plants to stay full and lush instead of becoming leggy.  The pinched segments can be easily rooted by sticking them in potting mix.  As temperatures warm, feed your Christmas cactus with a pelleted slow release fertilizer or fertilize twice a month with a liquid formulation such as MiracleGro.  Once danger of frost has passed in the spring, you can move the Christmas cactus outdoors to a partially shaded location.  Bring your cactus back indoors in October before the first threat of frost.  Your cactus will begin to form buds as the day length shortens and should bloom again next Christmas.  

Amaryllis grow well outside in our area.  Keep your spent bulbs indoors until the spring; once the danger of frost has passed, plant bulbs in the landscape.  Select a sunny to partially shaded site with well-drained soil.  Your bulb probably will not bloom the first season it is in the ground but should return to its normal blooming cycle and flower the following spring after being planted out.  When planted outdoors, amaryllis bloom in the spring rather than in the winter.  The bulbs are easy to grow, resistant to deer and voles and will gradually increase in size and number over time.