Boughs of Holly

Deck your Halls

By Amy McDowell

After we put away the turkey, some of us will soon find ourselves decking the halls. Holiday music and a swig of eggnog may help put you in the spirit.

Pretty Poinsettias

While visiting Hawaii several years ago, I was amazed to see poinsettias grown as shrubs around the foundations of homes. They looked spectacular, growing to about five feet tall and wide. The leaves (bracts) had colored to deep red on their own.

Red is the rage, but poinsettia breeders have created burgundy, white, salmon, pink, purple, and bicolors with marbled leaves. Today’s poinsettias can be kept looking terrific for at least eight weeks with the right care.

Put your poinsettia in a sunny window. They like bright light and are happiest when daytime temperatures are between 65 and 70 degrees and nighttime temperatures drop to the 55 to 65 degree range. If your home is too warm, you may see the lower leaves yellow and drop off.

Water thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry. Those plastic or foil wrappers on poinsettia pots can be detrimental to the plant’s health. A poinsettia that sits in water will droop and drop leaves if the roots begin to rot. Use a saucer under the pot, and cut holes in the wrappers so water will drain out where you can see it and dump it out.

Christmas Trees and Greens

The holiday atmosphere in your home will be festive whether your Christmas tree is fresh cut or artificial. Fresh cut trees, however, need a little extra TLC.

The needles on your fresh cut tree won’t dry out as quickly if you spray with an anti-transpirant like Wilt Pruf before bringing the tree into your home to decorate. Newer tree stands are designed with larger water pans, which ease your daily watering chore and prevent drying out. They are more expensive than basic tree stands, but worth the investment if you get a fresh cut tree every year.

If your tree is artificial, a few cut evergreen branches will bring the fresh evergreen smell into your home.

Amy McDowell is an Iowa Certified Nursery Professional. She has an associate’s degree in commercial horticulture and has worked in the field for ten years. She lives and gardens in Polk County.