Plants that brighten the home in winter are a delight to receive at holiday time, and several local stores and nurseries carry suitable options. Poinsettias, Christmas cactus and forced bulbs are among the most popular. If you're the giver, make sure your recipient knows how to care for the plant to receive maximum enjoyment. If you're the recipient, the following tips will help you get the most from your gift.
Poinsettias need bright light and cool temperatures; keep them away from drafts or heaters. Keep soil moderately moist, but don't allow water to stand in the saucer. Poinsettias are a bit complicated to maintain long term; however, some of the newer varieties last throughout the winter months if fertilized and given the proper environment.
Christmas cactus are easy to maintain indoors, and with the proper care, they will bloom again the following year. After bloom ends, let plants dry out, as they require less water during the short winter days.
Bulbs are another nursery gift that will keep on giving. Although bulbs started now won't bloom by Christmas, a handsome ceramic pot full of bulbs just beginning to sprout will delight the recipient in a few weeks when they do bloom. After they finish blooming, the potted bulbs can be transplanted to the garden where they should perform for years.
Many other plants make welcome gifts and are readily available. Consider an azalea trained as a standard, the nursery term for a tree form. Azaleas require bright sunlight and constantly moist soil. Flowers can last up to six weeks in the home. A nighttime temperature of 60ºF will prolong bloom. Azaleas will drop leaves if kept in low light. Use a fertilizer meant for azaleas and other plants that like acid soil. After bloom, azaleas can be transplanted to a shady spot in the garden. Be sure to keep them well watered during dry periods.
Amaryllis is a summer-flowering bulbous perennial that can also be forced. The secret to growing amaryllis is to keep the plant actively growing after it finishes blooming. Select large, firm bulbs and plant in a container filled with well-draining soil, with the top two-thirds of the bulb exposed. Keep in full sun with a nighttime temperature above 60ºF. The bulbs should bloom in six to eight weeks.
After bloom, move the container to a semi-shady spot in the garden. Fertilize monthly; keep dry when dormant. Amaryllis will be ready to force again about January 1. Bring them into a warm, lighted room and water moderately to begin new growth.
Cyclamen, a tuberous perennial with beautiful white, pink or carmine-red flowers, requires full sunlight and cool temperatures, with nighttime temperatures of 50ºF to 60ºF. Cyclamen are thirsty plants, especially in pots, and should be watered whenever the soil surface is dry. Flower buds will fail to develop if nighttime temperatures are too high or light is poor.
I've had success growing autumn-blooming cyclamens in a moist, semi-shady spot in my Napa garden. Purchased in the fall of 2002, the plants bloomed in pots on my front porch throughout the fall and winter. In the spring, I transplanted them to a side yard with northern exposure. By late summer, the plants were blooming again, and they continue to bloom today, in spite of recent chilly temperatures.
Evergreens are readily available in all types and sizes at this time of year. They make lovely Christmas trees and can planted outdoors after the holidays. Gift evergreens may be pine or spruce, from six inches to six feet tall. Other options in local stores include rosemary shaped like a Christmas tree and a white heather called 'Christmas Bells.'
Also consider giving a mixed basket of evergreens, annuals and perennials. You can purchase such baskets ready-made or create your own, including combinations of culinary herbs or several types of lettuce in a large pot.
Be creative in your holiday gift giving, and remember that whatever you put together yourself will be particularly appreciated.