Those Christmas cacti that you will probably wind up buying really does not take special care. I have two in hanging baskets and I hang them outside in the shade all summer long. Hit them about once a week with the hose. In the fall, just before the first freeze, bring them in and hang them in a bright south window. They will set their blooms and start blooming just before a freeze. Keep them inside until the last freeze has gone, then move them back outside. Give them a little water throughout the winter. Here in Texas, I have them in and out all winter. We don't have that much freezing weather where I am.
Poinsettas: They are beautiful with huge flowers. Well, after Christmas, put them in a large pot with good potting soil. They will grow and give you a beautiful green plant. You can put it outside after danger of a freeze. It will bloom again too, but that bloom will not be the showy huge bloom. The top leaves will turn red. You also won't get that white bloom back either. Those are forced in the greenhouse. In the wild in the tropics, poinsettas make a small tree around 10-15 feet high. And they do not bloom at Christmas. But they do make a really pretty potted plant. I have 4 of them and one is around 3 feet high. Keep them well watered but do not drown them. I put them out on the patio after the last freeze and I put them where I can hit them with the sprinkler about once a week. They are also easy to take care of and well worth the effort. But, please, don't just get them to throw away after Christmas. I have all 4 of mine from work after the landscape company undecorated Christmas and were going to throw them in the dumpster. I took 4 because that is all I have room for at the time. I will probably bring in a couple more this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment