With these simple care instructions for amaryllises, Christmas cacti, and poinsettias, you can transform your holiday plants into year-round showpieces!#Lifestyle #News #GardenAndHome #Christmas
ST. PAUL, MNH Holiday plants that add festive happiness to any house include amaryllises, Christmas cacti, and poinsettias. However, these plants can endure well past the season and rebloom each year with a little attention. Here’s how to maintain their health right now so they can blossom for more holidays in the future.
How to Care for Poinsettias
Rejuvenating your poinsettia after the holiday season is essential if you want to enjoy it again next Christmas. When overnight temperatures remain above 50 F (10 C), transfer the plant outside once the risk of frost has passed. To keep it bushy and compact, prune it back. Beginning in early October, give your poinsettia 14 hours of total darkness every night to start the blooming process. This can be accomplished by putting the plant in a closet or covering it with a cardboard box between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Water the plant carefully at this time. Your plant will be ready to bloom in time for the holidays if you cease the dark treatment when the buds start to develop in early December.
Tips for Growing Christmas Cacti
Another well-liked option are Christmas cacti, which come in a variety of hues like pink, white, and red. If given the right care, these hardy plants can bloom for 20 to 30 holiday seasons. Beginning about October 1, give your cactus lengthy nights to promote blooming. Lowering the plant’s overnight temperatures to between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit (10 and 13 degrees Celsius) in early November is another way to encourage flowering.
Make sure your cactus receives the proper circumstances to thrive year after year since, like the poinsettia, it need those prolonged periods of darkness to activate its blooms.
How to Grow Amaryllis for Beautiful Holiday Blooms
Many people like growing amaryllises from bulbs, and they are a holiday favorite. These bulbs frequently come pre-potted and with comprehensive care instructions. In as little as four to six weeks after you start watering, you should see lovely blossoms.
Allow the plant to develop as a foliage plant until the leaves turn yellow after it has finished flowering. After that, leave the lightbulb eight to ten weeks to rest by keeping it on its side in a cool, dark location, such as a closet or basement. To restart the cycle for next year’s flowers, repot the bulb and put it back in a bright location as soon as new growth starts to show.
General Care for All Holiday Plants
Although each of these plants has unique care needs, they all have a few things in common. Keep your Christmas plants out of direct sunlight, but place them in a sunny area. They all prefer damp, but not soggy, soil and do best in temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (16 and 21 degrees Celsius). Avoid drafts and place the plants where they will receive enough of daylight throughout the day.
These vibrant plants will thrive and be ready to adorn your home for the holidays the next year with the correct maintenance. Happy holidays and a very Merry Christmas!
RELATED TOPICS: Christmas | Home and Garden
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