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Deck Your Halls with Poinsettias, Amaryllis, and Christmas Cacti By Melissa J. Wantuck  |
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Create your own indoor garden with some of the popular holiday plants bountifully available in stores everywhere during the holiday season. The three most popular plants are Poinsettias, Amaryllis and Christmas Cacti. Here are tips from us on caring for these flowering beauties.
Watering
The key to good plant care is how much water a plant needs. To get an idea of how often you should water each of your plants, begin by watering the first day you have it. Check the soil the next day to see if it is dry or damp to your touch. Also, check the condition of the leaves to see if they are upright and strong, or weak and drooping. If the soil is damp and the leaves are drooping, you’ve over-watered and should water less frequently. If the soil is dry and the leaves are drooping, you need to water more often. If the leaves stay upright and the soil is dry, you’ll have an idea then how often until you need to water the plant.
Poinsettia
 This popular plant is characterized by what you might think are its large red flowers. In fact, they’re not flowers but rather the leaves of the plant called “bracts,” which basically means a leaf posing as a flower. The actual flower of the Poinsettia is the tiny yellow clusters in the center of the bracts. Bracts can be red, pink, or white.
Poinsettias are native to Mexico and Central America and were first introduced to the United States in 1825 by Paul Poinsett, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Poinsettias were already popular among Mexican Christians at Christmas time, having the name “Christmas Star.”
When you first bring home your Poinsettia, cut a hole in the bottom of the foil wrapper around its pot and set it in a tray to collect excess water to avoid the risk of the roots sitting in water.
Keep your Poinsettia in an area with bright but indirect sunlight that has an even temperature in the mid 60s. Poinsettia’s need humidity so either keep a bowl of water nearby, or set the plant in a bowl that has some gravel placed in it so the plant doesn’t sit directly down in the water. Keep the plant well watered throughout its flowering season. Between each watering, the top of the soil should be dry to the touch.
Amaryllis
 The Amaryllis is a flowering bulb and it is readily available in stores this time of year packaged like a gift. You’ll receive a kit with an Amaryllis bulb, a pot, and potting soil to get you started.
To begin, fill your pot with the potting soil, leaving a hole in the middle for the bulb. Place the bulb in the soil’s opening, roots down, to where the top level of the soil is level with the top of the bulb. Fill in the soil around the bulb and firmly pack the bulb in place.
Keep the amaryllis in a warm area that receives direct light. Water sparingly until the stem appears then water more frequently throughout the flowering period.
Here’s a fun fact about Amaryllis. Did you know its real name isn’t Amaryllis? A real Amaryllis is a single flower species native to South Africa. What we call Amaryllis is actually named Hippeastrum (which means “Horseman’s Star” or “Knight’s Star”) and is a native of Mexico and South America.
Christmas Cactus
 The first thing to understand about the Christmas Cactus is that it is not like a desert cactus. The Christmas Cactus is originally from South America and native to a cool, moist climate so it will need to be watered regularly. Keep it in a cooler room with temperatures in the lower 60s that receives plenty of indirect sunlight. Place a bowl filled with water nearby for humidity. Typically you should water the plant less this time of year. If the leaves begin to look like they’re wilting and the soil remains moist, you know you’re over watering. |
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