Holiday Plants: Care Tips and Tricks
The holiday season is a time when we bring plants and flowers indoors to create a warm and festive atmosphere. Popular holiday plants like poinsettias, Norfolk Island pines, cyclamens, amaryllis, paperwhites, and orchids require special care to ensure they thrive and brighten up your home during this special time of year.
Caring for Holiday Plants
Foil
Foil sleeves can make holiday plants like poinsettias look extra pretty, but they are not the best for the plants. Foil sleeves can trap the water, causing it to build up and cause root rot.
Poinsettias, Norfolk Island pines, and cyclamens should be taken out of their foil sleeves when watering.
Light
Holiday plants need bright, indirect light to thrive. North-facing windows provide the ideal light for poinsettias and Norfolk Island pines, while east, west, or south-facing windows are great for cyclamens.
If you need to diffuse the light, use curtains made from light-diffusing fabrics.
Watering
Watering holiday plants can be tricky, but there are some general rules you can follow. Indoor conifers like lemon cypress, potted juniper, and spruce need to be watered regularly and kept moist.
To maintain proper humidity for your holiday plants, place them in tray of wet pebbles or moist sphagnum moss. Poinsettias and Christmas cactus should be watered once the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Norfolk Island pine, cyclamen, anthurium, orchids, bulb type plants like amaryllis, cyclamen, and paperwhites require proper drainage and should not be left standing in water.
Humidity
In winter, the furnace can cause dry air, which is not good for holiday plants. Clustering plants together and misting them with water can increase the humidity.
You can also create your own terrarium to increase humidity. Frosty ferns do well in terrariums.
Pruning
Pruning is important for maintaining the health of your holiday plants. Deadheading is the process of removing dead or dying flowers from the plant.
Yellowed foliage or damaged foliage can be removed with pruning shears. Brown tips should be removed with a sharp pair of scissors.
Peace lilies and Norfolk Island pine benefit from pruning, but it should be done carefully to maintain their shape and health. Potting/Planting
If a holiday plant is rootbound, it needs to be repotted.
Use a standard potting mix for general purposes. For orchids, use an orchid-specific bark mix.
Make sure the container has drainage holes to prevent the build-up of stagnant water.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is not mentioned for holiday plants since they are usually already fertilized before sale. However, if you want to feed your plants, use a water-soluble fertilizer that is safe for indoor use.
Specific Plant Care
Lemon Cypress
Lemon cypress need to be watered regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy. They prefer high humidity and do well in terrariums or under glass containers.
Prune the tips to maintain their shape.
Christmas Cactus
Christmas cactus need to be watered frequently but make sure the top layer of soil is dry before watering. Remove dead or yellowing leaves and prune the tips after blooming to encourage branching.
If the plant is rootbound, it needs to be repotted using a well-draining soil that is high in organic matter.
Norfolk Island Pine
Norfolk Island pine needs bright, indirect light and even moisture. Water when the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch.
Prune the tips to maintain their shape. Repot when the plant becomes rootbound, using a well-draining soil mix.
Cyclamen
Cyclamen prefers cool temperatures, bright light, and well-draining soil. Water only when the soil feels dry to the touch, and make sure it is not overwatered.
Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer, and remove yellow or dead leaves. Bulb-type cyclamen needs to be allowed to go dormant by withholding water after the leaves wither.
Orchids
Orchids need good air circulation, indirect light, and a well-draining orchid-specific bark mix. Water when the bark mix is dry to the touch and never leave them standing in water.
Fertilize with a weak solution of balanced fertilizer.
Amaryllis
Amaryllis is a bulb-type plant that needs to be planted in a well-draining soil and watered regularly but sparingly until it blooms. Once it blooms, water regularly.
Remove dead flowers and leaves. When the leaves die back, stop watering and let the bulb rest for a few months before starting the cycle again.
Paperwhites
Paperwhites are bulb-type plants that need to be planted in well-draining soil. Water regularly until they bloom, then stop watering and let the foliage die back naturally.
The bulbs can be stored in a cool, dark place until they can be replanted.
Peace Lily
Peace lily needs bright, indirect light, even moisture, and a well-draining soil. Prune brown or yellow leaves and dead flowers.
Fertilize with a weak solution of balanced fertilizer.
Conclusion
Enjoying holiday plants in your home doesn’t have to be complicated. With the proper care and attention, your holiday plants can be healthy and thriving, adding beauty and joy to your festive dcor.
Remember, each plant has its unique requirements, so make sure to research and follow the instructions to keep your holiday plants happy and healthy throughout the season. In conclusion, caring for holiday plants requires attention to specific factors like light, watering, pruning, potting, and humidity.
By following these tips, you can keep your plants healthy and beautiful all season long. Here are some frequently asked questions that can help you achieve success with your holiday plants:
1) How frequently should I water my holiday plants?
Answer: The frequency of watering varies depending on the type of plant, but its generally recommended to water when the soil feels dry to the touch. 2) How much light do holiday plants need?
Answer: Most holiday plants require bright, indirect light to thrive. 3) Can I use foil sleeves for my holiday plants?
Answer: Its not recommended to leave holiday plants in foil sleeves due to the risk of water buildup and root rot. 4) When should I repot my holiday plants?
Answer: Repot holiday plants when they become rootbound or if the soil has become depleted. 5) Can I fertilize my holiday plants?
Answer: Most holiday plants come pre-fertilized, but if you want to feed them, use a water-soluble fertilizer that is safe for indoor use. By addressing these common concerns, you can confidently care for your holiday plants and enjoy their beauty throughout the season.