Holiday Plants:
The holiday season is upon us: Halloween, Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Although the stores have skipped to Christmas, in Ocean Shores, we still like to remember the other holidays. My neighbors across the lake have put up some purple lights. Last year their Christmas light display put my husband into Griswold mode. He put up nearly anything he could find. He did throw away the LED Reindeer we had in Renton. No need for any more deer in Ocean Shores!
With my husband in charge of OUTside decorating, that puts me in charge of INside decorating. Being a gardener … that means plants! The ones we tend to see this time of year are native to tropical climates, which you will need to replicate if your holiday plants are to survive. Here are a few of my favorites, along with some of the conditions that will keep them flowering and beautiful for the holidays:
Christmas (or Thanksgiving) Cactus, Schlumbergera
Although called cacti, these are humidity-loving succulents native to Brazil. White, pink, red, cream, or yellow flowering indoor varieties have been developed to bloom around holidays, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving and lately Easter. Blooms can last 2 to 4 months.
Plants prefer temperatures between 60-70oF, moderate to bright light, frequent watering, and high humidity. You can either spray daily or keep the potted plant on a tray full of pebbles covered with water. Check to keep out of drafts, avoid sudden temperature changes, and don’t let roots become either waterlogged or dried out.
For a yearly re-bloom: 6 to 8 weeks before the desired bloom time, help the plant to enter dormancy. Cut back on water and reduce light and temperature. Provide 12-14 hours of darkness and reduce the temperature to 50-55oF. The nursery has already done this so you can purchase them in full bloom.
Amaryllis, Amaryllidaceae
The Amaryllis is an amazingly fast growing, South African, perennial bulb plant, great for kids. Look for white, red, pink and lots of new variations. The plant will usually produce 4-6 blooms per stalk.
When you get it home or 6 to 8 weeks before you want blooms, replant into a heavy pot (a big rock in the bottom, prevents the plant from tipping over as it gets larger.) Use good potting soil and pack around the bulb so that one-third of the bulb is above the soil. Plant the bulb flat side down. Place in bright, indirect light and water sparingly. When growth appears, increase watering a bit and turn the pot daily so it will grow straight. (You may need a support to the bloom stalk.)
It is so fast growing you can actually measure its growth daily. My daughter did this with me when she was 4. She measured its growth daily, charted her measurements and kept track of how long the flowers lasted – 3 weeks that time! (She just graduated as a Biology major this past year!)
Anthurium, Araceae
Native to American tropical rainforests, Anthurium flowers consist of a shiny, heart-shaped bracht (the flower petal is really a specialized leaf) surrounding a slender fleshy spike, usually red, rose, salmon, white or sometimes maroon.
It prefers a humid environment with higher temperatures (80-90oF) and indirect, light. Most plants can survive at lower temperatures but will grow more slowly and produce fewer flowers. It requires well-draining soil. I use a mix of half potting soil and half small orchid bark. Water when the soil is dry, but don’t let roots sit in water. Once a month soak the whole pot in water to keep the root-ball hydrated. Do not forget to mist daily. To keep it beyond the season, fertilize with one-quarter strength high phosphorus formula once every 1-3 months. With care you should be able to keep this plant for several years.
Poinsettia, Euphorbia pucherrima
This is the quintessential Christmas plant! There are over 50 shades of red, white, or pink available with various bracht shapes. Many are available at grocery stores, but check nurseries for the more interesting varieties.
Poinsettiae are finicky, short lived plants. If care is given, they will be beautiful for several weeks. Give them semi-cool, humid locations in bright, indirect light. Water thoroughly, but do not let them sit in water-filled saucers. Keep out of drafts. For a challenge you can try to keep them for another year, but I have found my efforts better spent on any of the other plants instead.
For more information about these plants see: The New Sunset Western Garden Book. The Ultimate Gardening Guide, any edition.
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Questions or comments about this article, GBTS or gardening in general can be directed to Dauna at dauna@gardenbytheseaoceanshores.org
This article was originally printed in The Ocean Observer, December 2019.
