More Holiday Plants

The holiday season has begun and all those wonderful holiday plants are arriving in local greenhouses, garden centers and retail stores. Most people, when receiving a holiday plant, have two questions: "How do I care for this?" and "Can I make it bloom next year?" The holiday plant guide below will help answer those questions about some of our common holiday plants.

Care of holiday plants is usually easy, reblooming often is not. In general, keep holiday plants in a cool room with bright, indirect light and a consistent water supply. This care keeps the plants healthy and keeps the blooms on longer.

Find your plant on the guide below and follow the instruction for beautiful holiday plants. Have a safe and happy season.

Amaryllis

Care during flowering:

• Keep plant out of direct sunlight.
• Keep soil evenly moist.
• Keep in cool room for longer bloom.

Rebloom:

• Remove dead flowers promptly.
• Place plant in direct sunlight.
• Keep leaves actively growing in summer.
• In fall, withhold water until leaves die .
• After leaves die, store potted bulb in cool (45-50 degrees at night) location.
• After 2-3 months, move plant to light and resume watering; flower buds will appear in a few weeks.

Christmas and Thanksgiving Cacti

Care during flowering:

• During flowering, keep temperatures cool at night (55-60°F).
• Place plant where it gets some direct sun.
• Water thoroughly, but allow moderate drying between waterings.
• Do not fertilize during bloom.

Rebloom:

• Place plant where it can get bright light.
• Fertilize regularly, but lightly.
• Cool night temperatures (55°F) in Sept. will stimulate buds.
• If cool temps are not possible; give the plant 4-6 weeks of short days (8-10 hours of light) and long nights (14-16 hours of complete dark). Plants should flower about two months later.

Cyclamen

Care during flowering:

• Keep temperatures cool. After flowering, reduce watering so foliage dies (50-60°F at night; less than 70°during day).
• Place plant in bright sunlight.
• Keep soil evenly moist .
• Do not let water settle in center of bulb provide water and fertilizer regularly.

Rebloom:

• Withhold water for 6-8 weeks.
• Resume watering; place in cool, shady window.
• As new leaves develop, place in sunny location.

Kalanchoe

Care during flowering:

• Cool night temperatures (60-65°F).
• Full sun in winter; bright light in summer.
• Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings.
• Fertilize at monthly intervals.

Rebloom:

• Difficult to rebloom.
• Cut back tall growth & old flower stems.
• Give the plant 6 weeks of short days (8-10 hours of light) and long nights (14-16 hours of complete dark). When buds are visible, day length is no longer critical.