Monday, December 26, 2011

How to take care of your Christmas plants.

            If you bought yourself any Christmas plants or were given one and you don't know how to care for them I am here to help.

             Christmas cactus, also known botanically as Schlumbergera or Zygocactus, bloom at Christmas time and sometimes at Easter, I've even had them bloom in summer( outside on a covered porch). It's a tropical plant and not a true cacti. Easy care instructions.


   -- Keep it out of direct sun light.
   -- Keep it moist
   -- Water from the bottom
   -- Give it fertilizer when it is actively grow, a blooming house type is fine
   -- From September to October reduce watering and keep it in a cool room, never let it freeze
   -- Prune it about a month after it blooms
   -- To get starts off of it cut a section that has 2 or 3 sections to it, let it dry out and then plant it                   in the same soil as the parent plant.

                                               Christmas cactus


           Poinsettia, botanical name Euphorbia pulcherrima, this is a picky plant thats not always easy to care for but I have some easy to follow instructions for you.
--Place your Poinsettia in front of a window, this plant loves bright light.
--Keep the soil evenly moist and never let it dry out. Even one day with dry soil can cause this plant    to  lose it's leaves, my mother always put a ice cube or two in it everyday, it worked.
-- Turn the heat up, their from Mexico where it's hot even in the winter, and try to keep the temperature as close to constant as you can
-- Fertilize weekly with half strength liquid house plant fertilizer.



           As you know both of these plants come in many in a few different colors: red, white, and pink. I hope this helps you with your Christmas plants, with care these plants can last for years. I'm hoping you had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy New Years.


          If you have and questions or comments for me feel free to leave a comment or email me anytime, until next time............

3 comments:

FoxyMoron said...

Great idea for a blog Nat, I love it. I enjoy gardening but I'm still learning really so this will be good for me and lots of fun. I love my zygo cactus. My mum gave me one years ago and it even bloomed in a dark hallway with no natural light at all!

yellowdoggranny said...

wow..learned a lot..and just your first post...cool!

My name WAS Female, I shit you not! said...

How did you know? ;0)
A small poinsetta and Christmas cactus is exactly what I bought to brighten my life and neither do I know how to care for. :0(
I think I'm going to fall in love with you. :0)
(((hugs)))Pat