After the Holidays

In the enthusiasm and spirit of the season, many of us buy plants and fresh decorations for the holidays like poinsettias, fresh garland or wreaths, amaryllis, and orchids. Without the holidays many of us would likely not have made such a purchase. Many holiday plants thrive only for a few weeks with “average holiday care”, but in the cor- rect location and with proper care many holiday plants can last for years. So what do we do with these plants after the holidays?

If you have a living Christmas tree and it’s been indoors for a week, immediately put down this paper and go put it outdoors (then come back and read the rest of the paper). If living trees are indoors more than a week or so, they will begin to break their winter rest and try to grow. Then once returned outdoors, living trees experience tremendous confusion and often die by the end of winter. Upon placing your tree outside choose the sunniest location possible, preferably where it will receive rain. Remove any bags or trays you had around the pot or root ball.

On the other hand, the Norfolk Island Pine, a subtropical tree that should be left indoors until mid to late spring when the threat of a frost is gone. It prefers lots of light, though direct sun all day is not required. Keep the soil evenly moist, not too wet, and definitely not too dry.

Cut Christmas trees can, of course, be left indoors as long as you provide water for the cut end. Please avoid throwing the tree in the garbage once you’re done with it. Scouts and troops have their annual curbside collection of cut Christmas trees. Your cut Christmas tree can also be cut up for kindling, mulch, door swags, etc. But please don’t throw it in the garbage.

Once they’ve worn out their welcome fresh greenwreaths and garland work great as a mulch around perennials, roses, shrubs. Be sure to remove plastic bows or decorations that might blow away and create little in the winter. Fresh green holiday centerpieces and door swags can also be taken apart and used as kindling or mulch. Again, please don’t throw any these into the garbage.

Poinsettias are very easy houseplants to grow year round, if you have lots of light. They usually perform quite well for a few weeks in lower light, but for continued care, poinsettias need full sun. Remove the sleeve, if any, to provide for more air around the roots, and use a tray under the pot. Keep poinsettias evenly moist during winter, not too wet and not too dry, and never allow standing water in the tray. Continue to feed with any houseplant fer- tilizer according to the instructions. If you simply don’t want the plant, give it away or donate it to senior center.

Amaryllis may continue to bloom for some time, especially if they are kept cool, but not less than 50 F. After all the flowers have faded, cut off the entire bloom stalk. Continue to feed with any houseplant fertilizer, according to the instructions, after the long strap-like leaves emerge. Give your amaryllis as much sun as possible. Entirely discontinue watering in mid spring and let the leaves turn yellow to allow the bulb to go dormant. Through the summer store the ama- ryllis bulb in a cool, dark, dry location. Repot it in mid to late fall, and begin to water again. Once more, if you just don’t want it, give it away or place it in the compost pile.