Ag Line: Keep Your Holiday Plants Happy
By Wade Parker County Extension Coordinator

I probably should have included this week's newspaper column in last week's paper, but better late than never!

Live plants make wonderful holiday gifts. But potted plants need our help to do well. Here are a few hints to keep holiday plants happy and healthy.

Most flowering plants require bright indirect light. Do not put them in direct sun since this may wilt and fade the flowers. Turn plants weekly to keep them from leaning toward the light. In rooms with poor light, place plants within 12 to 18 inches of a florescent light.Keep plants out of drafts from heaters, fans, windows, etc.

Keep the soil moist but not soggy or overly wet. Let the soil surface dry slightly between waterings. Do not let the pot sit in water for longer than 30 min- utes. Always use enough water to completely soak the root ball. Water should run out the bottom of the pot at each watering. Plants with flowers and larger leaves will require water more often.

Remove faded flowers and leaves to make the plant more attractive and to keep the plant from producing seed.

Good growing temperatures are found in most houses. Strive for 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the day and 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night, unless otherwise noted. Plants placed too near windows may be injured by the cold. Remember, your gift plant was probably raised in a greenhouse, so you will not be able to mimic these conditions exactly.

Poinsettias are probably the most popular Christmas plants. There are red, pink, white and marbled varieties. They are grown for their colorful bracts (modified leaves) and not for their flowers, which are the small yellow structures in the center of the bracts.

Select plants in which these flowers have not yet opened for longest life. Maintain a daytime temperature of 65 to70 degrees Fahrenheit and reduce this to low 60's at night.

Put poinsettias in bright light but never in full sun. Select areas where the plant will not dry out. If placed in a window, remove it at night so it will not get too cold. Let the soil surface dry slightly between waterings and then water until it runs out of the bottom of the pot.

Poinsettias are very sensitive to environment. Drafts, cold, heat, dim light, low humidity or improper watering may cause these plants to wilt or shed leaves and flowers.

Amaryllis requires bright light, cool conditions and moist soils like other flowering plants. Bulbs bloom four to six weeks after planting. Individual flowers last three to four days but a plant may have two flower stalks with three to four flowers per stalk.To re-bloom an amaryllis, let the leaves grow normally in a well-lit warm location. Put them outside in the spring and summer. Fertilize and water as needed. Once leaves begin to die back, slowly and eventually stop watering. Store the bulb in a cool, dry place for four to eight weeks before beginning growth again by watering.

Holiday Cactus come in three types which bloom at different times of the year. Depending on type, they flower at Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. All three require bright light and moderate moisture levels. South facing windows are good places for holiday cacti. After bloom, remove faded flowers and fertilize. They can be grown outside in spring and summer in shady locations. Stem pieces of three segments or more root easily. They flower based on day length so should bloom at the same time every year.I hope everyone has a safe and prosperous New Year!