How to care for those holiday plants and flowers
By Susan Edwards CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

Poinsettias provide a beautiful splash of color for the holidays, but most people don't have the patience to help them reclaim their glory after their first bloom.

Have you ever seen a poinsettia for sale in June? Here in the states, this plant is almost synonymous with Christmas, serving as a decoration for mantles and sideboards each December. With its colorful red bracts against vibrant green foliage, Euphorbia pulcherrima can't help but stir up some holiday cheer. While our holiday staple poinsettia is a native plant of Mexico, its relative, Euphorbia heterophylla (known as wild poinsettia or painted leaf), grows right here in Virginia but lacks the large red bracts of its showy cousin - you won't see it on any mantles but may come across it at wood's edge.

Many other gift plants are associated with the holiday season: amaryllis, Christmas cactus, gardenia and cyclamen, to name a few. These plants are a source of joy but sometimes also frustration when the receiver doesn't know how to care for the plant or tries to carry over an unwilling plant from year to year. Temperature, moisture and light will influence how well your gift plant performs this winter; too much or too little may result in disappointing blooms.

For example, poinsettias do well between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit - avoid temperatures more than 5 degrees out of this range. Water the plant well and let drain (this means removing the colorful pot-wrap when watering - don't let it sit in a puddle of water) and then let the soil dry out between watering. Supply bright light and keep this delicate plant away from drafts. Azaleas need consistent moisture, bright direct light and cool nighttime temperatures (around 60 degrees Fahrenheit) for good bloom. The bloom of a Christmas cactus is influenced by nighttime temperatures and day length, preferring cool nights and bright light for short periods of time in winter.

Some gift plants are best enjoyed for one season and then discarded while others can be kept from year to year with successful flowering. Set your amaryllis outside after the danger of frost has passed in the spring and bring indoors in September. With some additional steps, this bulb will be ready to force again in November. Christmas cacti actively grow April through September but excessive bright light in the summer can cause yellowing. A dormancy period is needed in the fall to prepare for bloom. By reducing water and providing cool nighttime temperatures, the cacti will be ready to bloom again mid-November. They also bloom best when somewhat pot-bound, so do not repot these plants often, maybe every three or four years. Cyclamen and poinsettias can be wintered over but usually lack vigor in bloom the second time around. Other gift plants such as calceolaria, cineraria and kalanchoe should be discarded after blooming.

Give your gift recipient a head start on a successful bloom and take care when transporting a plant out in the winter cold. A short run to your car in very cold temperatures may kill an exposed gift plant. Wrap plants thoroughly with newspapers or paper bags before leaving the store to carry them to your car. Then, place them in the front of the car and turn the heater on. The trunk will be too cold for the plant - remember we're dealing with tropicals here. Take the same care when transporting to the recipient's home.

Why not give the gift of a green thumb along with that poinsettia? Consider providing a copy of Virginia Cooperative Extension publication 426-101, "Care of Specialty Potted Plants," with any gift plants you may be giving this year. Detailed care information on these and other gift plants is provided, as well as over-wintering instructions for several plants. To obtain a free copy, call the Chesterfield County Cooperative Extension at 751-4401 or visit online at www.ext.vt.edu/resources/anrpublications.html.