Care Tips for Classic Holiday Plants

We love this time of year here in the garden center, and we want to make sure you get the very best out of your holiday classics! So, we made a list of quick care tips to help you out, and included some fun facts about each plant:

Poinsettias 

• Place in indirect sunlight, indoors or out
• Water every other day to every 3^rd day by setting in sink to soak, then drain  or place 4-5 ice cubes per day in pot 
• Fertilize every 2 weeks with liquid organic Hasta Gro
• Periodically freshen up by pulling old leaves

Fun facts:  Poinsettias are a type of succulent native to Mexico. Before they arrive here at the garden center, they require 12 hours of total darkness each day to produce blooms!

Christmas Cactus

• Keep in indirect sunlight, indoors or out
• Water when dry, about every 4-5 days
• Fertilize every 2 weeks with liquid organic Hasta Gro

Fun facts:  Can last a VERY long time (as in 50 years or more). Native to tropical forests of Southeastern Brazil. If you are not seeing many blooms, try placing it in a dark area away from light for 8-12 hours – similar to poinsettias…

Amaryllis

• Keep in good indirect indoor light
• Keep soil moist but not wet
• Once bloom fades, trim and plant in garden, leaving center of bulb above soil level

Fun facts:  The gift that keeps on giving – they multiply! They can be divided each year to share with loved ones. 

Paperwhite Narcissus

• Refrigerate for 4-6 weeks prior to planting. (plant around Thanksgiving for holiday blooms!)
• Fill a clear vase with a few inches of pea gravel.
• Nestle bulbs side by side into the gravel.
• Add water up to the bottom of the bulb and
  place near a sunny window.

Fun facts:  Native to the Mediterranean region. Paperwhites were an early item of commerce – they arrived in China during the Late Sung period, about 1,000 years ago, probably introduced by Arab traders.

Cyclamen

• One more time…keep in good indirect indoor or outdoor light 
• Water when dry
• Trim spent blooms to encourage new blooms
• Best outdoors in pots once holiday season is over

Fun facts:  Cyclamen are associated with falling in love, raising self-esteem and confidence, and even healing snake bites (we would not suggest trying this one). Some say putting Cyclamen flowers in your nostrils is a cure for baldness!