December blooms a delightful holiday harbinger
Everyone has their favorite holiday
”
thing,
”
whether it’s the carols, the tree, the candles in the window or
the midnight services. Mine is the flowering plants of
December.
Thanks to greenhouse growers who use special lighting to bring
these plants into bloom just at the right moment, we can deck our
halls with boughs of holly along with poinsettias, azaleas, orchids
and more. A visit to a garden center or florist – or the flower
section of your local grocery store – is a step into the fragrance
and beauty of this special time. Whether you are looking for a
thoughtful hostess gift, or ways to decorate your own home, here’s
what you will find, with tips on how to keep them healthy.
December blooms a delightful holiday harbinger
Everyone has their favorite holiday “thing,” whether it’s the carols, the tree, the candles in the window or the midnight services. Mine is the flowering plants of December.
Thanks to greenhouse growers who use special lighting to bring these plants into bloom just at the right moment, we can deck our halls with boughs of holly along with poinsettias, azaleas, orchids and more. A visit to a garden center or florist – or the flower section of your local grocery store – is a step into the fragrance and beauty of this special time. Whether you are looking for a thoughtful hostess gift, or ways to decorate your own home, here’s what you will find, with tips on how to keep them healthy.
* Poinsettias: Some people see them as the fruit cake of the flower world: There is just too many of them and they don’t last, either. I adore the red poinsettias, and the pink or white or marbled poinsettias aren’t too bad either.
When buying a poinsettia, choose a plant that looks healthy with no browning leaves. Look at the little yellow flowers in the center of the red bracts. Pick one in which the yellow flowers are just beginning to open. Feel the soil in the pot. A dried-out plant that has gotten poor care in the store is not a good buy.
You can buy small poinsettias for about $4 each, and the price increases with the size of the plant and the number of plants within that pot. If you are planning to order a poinsettias from a florist for delivery somewhere else, expect the cost to be from $40 to $50 or more.
Take it home: Remove the foil from around the pot. When watering, hold the pot under a trickle of water, allowing the water to drain through the bottom. Set the pot in a shallow dish, but don’t let it stand in water. Keep your poinsettia away from heaters or direct sunlight, and don’t put it on top of the TV. Poinsettias can be planted outdoors, but this is a may be thing: it may work and then again it may not. Set an outdoor plant against a south-facing wall.
It’s possible to bring a poinsettia into bloom next year, but frankly it’s more trouble than it’s worth. When the plant drops its leaves and looks sick, toss it in the compost pile. Start with a new one next year.
* Orchids: Once considered exotic and unusual, orchids are now readily available thanks to the greenhouse growers and their magic hands. The orchids most commonly found because they are the easiest to grow are phalaenopsis, paphiopedilum and cattleya. Look for a healthy plant with no brown leaves. The soil should not feel overly wet. One that has additional blooms still to open is ideal, but keep in mind that an orchid is long-blooming. So, a plant with just one flower will remain blooming for months.
You may find mini orchids for about $10 each, while $20 for a regular size plant is a good buy. Prices go up significantly depending on the size of the orchid plant, the variety and the number of flowers. If ordering from a florist, the price of a single orchid in a planter starts at about $60.
Take it home: The orchid you buy should have a Orchid Care card attached to it. Orchid care is surprisingly similar regardless of the variety. Phalaenopsis and paphiopedilum orchids are almost identical: 70-80 degrees temperature, water every 5 to 7 days without wetting the foliage, moderate to indirect light and fertilizer twice a month for phalaenopsis and once a month for paphiopedilum. Cattleya likes water ever 7 to 10 days, and it’s OK to let the pot slightly dry out between watering. Cattleya also likes bright indirect light and fertilizer once or twice a month, less in winter.
*Lucky Bamboo: There are no flowers but this is the season’s hottest plant. Lucky bamboo, also known as Fortune bamboo, grows with twists and turns in the stems. It’s not really bamboo, however. It is Dracaena sanderana, more commonly known as the ribbon plant, and it grows in water like a cut flower. Lucky bamboo is part of the Feng Shui way. It’s given as a token of good fortune and prosperity, and that’s why it’s my choice as the perfect hostess gift this holiday season.
You will find pots of Lucky bamboo in nurseries and florists, priced from $10 and up depending on the size of the plant and the pot in which it is growing.
Take it home: Lucky bamboo grows in 1/2 to 2 inches of water. Don’t let the pot dry out and don’t overdo it. It likes bright indirect light and mild houseplant fertilizer. The secret to long life for this plant is to change the water every two weeks – pour it out and add new – to avoid bacteria buildup in the water. It will last for years with minimum care.
There are a number of other beautiful flowering plants including azaleas, cyclamens, Christmas cactus (Zygo cactus), forced paperwhites and forced spring bulbs. A walk through the nursery or florist will reveal the wonderful choices available.
A lovely living plant sure beats a boring fruit cake.
