DATE: November 13, 2006

HARDIN COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
201 Peterson Drive
Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701-9370

BY: Amy Aldenderfer
County Extension Agent for Horticulture

GIVE PLANTS THE RIGHT TLC TO EXTEND HOLIDAY PLEASURE

Although the holidays seem far away, it's not too early to be think of holiday plants for your home. Many different plants are available to brighten your holidays. By choosing healthy plants and taking proper care of them, you and your family can continue to enjoy these plants for several months after the holidays.

Although poinsettia is the most popular traditional holiday plant, you can choose from a variety of other plants including holiday cacti, ornamental peppers, kalanchoe and cyclamen.

When buying any holiday plants, choose those with undamaged foliage that has a crisp, bright color. Select plants with some unopened flower buds to give you blooms longer into the season.

Poinsettias should have small, tightly clustered yellow buds in the center.

An important part of proper care begins before you get holiday plants home. They won't tolerate winter temperatures for an extended period of time. Don't let them remain in a cold car while you run other errands. Instead, make your plant-buying stop the last before you go home.

Inadequate light is a major problem for holiday plants.

Homes generally are darker in the winter because we have shorter days--eight hours of sunlight or less--and cloudy, rainy weather. You need to put holiday plants in a location where the sun falls on foliage a few hours each day.

Give plants enough, but not too much, water.

In most home situations, water about every five to seven days, or whenever the soil dries out. A plant might have adequate soil moisture even though the surface appears dry; so stick your finger into the soil about an inch to determine the moisture level.

Of course how often you water also depends upon the type of plant. Succulents like cacti and kalanchoes require less water than other holiday plants.

If a plant is wrapped in foil, poke a hole in the bottom of the foil so excess water will flow out the drainage hole. Discard excess water that collects in the drainage saucer.

Put plants out of drafts and away from such heat sources as appliances, radiators and fireplaces that emit heat that can dry your plants out.

Use an ordinary houseplant fertilizer several weeks after bringing holiday plants home.

You can enjoy colorful poinsettias, cacti, kalanchoes and cyclamen until February if you care for them properly by avoiding prolonged exposure to cold weather and giving them the right growing environment in your home.

Poinsettias and cacti are relatively easy to maintain while kalanchoes and cyclamen are more difficult. Discard ornamental pepper plants because they won't flower again.

For more information, contact your Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service at 765-4121.