Holidays
Holiday Cactus Once known as Christmas cactuses, the term holiday cactus came about because you can have these plants blooming from Thanksgiving to Easter. The true Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) blooms in December, while the more commonly found Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata) starts blooming earlier. The Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri) blooms in spring. Fortunately, they require the same general care. They also make excellent houseplants during the rest of the year and can even go outside during the summer in colder climates. During the holiday season. Put it in a spot where it gets bright, indirect light — a west-facing window that doesn’t get direct sun is ideal. Water regularly, but allow the container to drain freely and the soil to dry a bit between waterings. Post-holiday care. Continue the same care while the plant blooms. You can move the plant outdoors in spring and summer if you live in a cold-winter climate or at almost any time in the warmest winter regions. Provide bright indirect light through spring and summer and into fall. Fertilize weekly with about one-quarter-strength fertilizer from spring through summer while the plant is growing, Holiday...
The trick to their red color. Poinsettias are short-day plants and require an extended daily period of darkness over several weeks to trigger the change of leaf color from green to red. Place the plant in a location that’s completely dark at night for a minimum of 12 to 14 hours and with nighttime temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (12.8 to 15.6 degrees Celsius). If you don’t have such a location or can’t guarantee it will remain completely dark for that long, cover the plant with a box or black plastic bag, taking care that the covering does not touch the leaves. During the day, provide at least six hours of sunlight and temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21.1 degrees Celsius). Continue to feed and water regularly. Turn the plant every few days to encourage even growth. After about 10 weeks to two months (or even longer), you’ll begin to see the color change. Bring the plant inside and continue watering, but discontinue feeding it until the blooming fades. If you live in a climate where temperatures don’t drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), you can plant your poinsettia outdoors. Choose a spot with fertile, well-draining soil that gets bri...
Post-holiday care. Give your plant the same care as you did during the holidays until the blooms fade, usually by March. Cut the plant back to about 8 inches high. Cut back on watering at this time as well, allowing the soil to dry completely between waterings. You can keep your plant indoors or move it outside in late spring into early summer once nighttime temperatures have warmed up above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). Put it in a bright spot that gets indirect light in the mornings and partial shade in the afternoons. Resume regular watering when growth begins again, but be sure the container drains completely and the soil isn’t soggy. Feed with a balanced half-strength fertilizer every two weeks. Pinch back stems to keep the plant bushy. You also may want to repot the plant if it’s crowded. Bring your plant inside in fall, when nighttime temperatures fall to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) again.
Poinsettia No flower defines the holiday season like the cheerful poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). It’s known for its bright red “leaves,” which are actually bracts — although, these days you can also find them in shades of white, cream and pink, as well as bicolor versions. It’s also long-lasting. Given the right care, it often will continue to bloom until the beginning of spring. If you’re willing to do a little more work, you can also get it to rebloom for several holiday seasons. During the holiday season. Ideally, put your plant in a location that gets six to eight hours of bright, direct sunlight. It also can handle darker spots for a few weeks. Keep it out of drafts and cold spots, and place it where it won’t touch cold window glass. Daytime temperatures should be between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 to 26.7 degrees Celsius). Water thoroughly when the soil is dry to an inch or so below the surface, then allow the container to drain completely. If you can, provide additional humidity; setting it on a pebble tray is ideal. Don’t fertilize while the plant is blooming. One rule of thumb for any plant you have: Remove the wrapping around the container, cheerful tho...
Tree lighting: Avoid trying to swirl lights around the canopy of a large outdoor tree, Stephens says. “We emphasize random placement,” he says. Start at the top and evenly distribute the lights, but do it in a random pattern. You also don’t need to cover every inch of the tree; leave plenty of open space between the lights.Stephens says 20 percent coverage is plenty and will still look great. You can also inject some color by making every third light red or by using multicolored light strings for a more random look. Extension cord tips: To get lights to your tree, you’ll most likely need an extension cord. Besides electrical capacity and safety considerations, you can look for extension cords that will blend into the landscape. You can find green cords to run between the grass and sidewalk, or brown cords that camouflage into paths, Stephens says. “Wireless capabilities are just not there yet,” he says, “so we train our staff in extension cord management.” You can also keep cords out of sight more by running them around the back of the house or up the back of the house to the roof, depending on your power-source needs.
Electrical Safety First Before planning a design and pulling out the ladder, inspect your holiday lighting supplies for any electrical concerns. Outlets: You want to plug any lights into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet, says Keith Pinkerton of Mr. Electric in Huntsville, Alabama. This outlet is designed to shut off the power when it detects a current flowing along an unintended path. This feature helps prevent electrical shock and house fires. You can recognize these outlets because they have a “test” button on them. Before you start plugging in lights, test these outlets to ensure that they are working correctly, Pinkerton says. If you have any concerns, contact an electrician. Extension cords: Check that your extension cords are UL certified for how you are planning to use them. You’ll especially want to look at whether they are for indoor or outdoor use. “Anymore, you can find cords of all lengths, colors and widths that will do the job safely,” Pinkerton says. If you’re unsure about your cord, it’s worth investing in a new one. Light strings: Replace any light strings with damaged or frayed installation, Pinkerton says. “It’s not worth your house or shed...
clutter clearing: December: Holiday items and decor. With so much going on around the holidays, it’s wise not to expect too much of yourself when it comes to clutter-clearing. That said, with all of the new gifts coming in, it does make sense to do some paring back to preserve balance in the house. Give away holiday ornaments and decor that you did not use this year, or that you no longer love Toss broken ornaments and recycle strands of lights that no longer work Exchange or give away gifts you received but know you will never use, and do not like — don’t keep things out of guilt. The one exception to this rule may be hand-knit sweaters. The knitter will never forgive you; that’s just how it is. Habit to cultivate: Tell friends and family who ask (in advance of the holidays) that you and your family would prefer gifts that are experiential or edible. Most people honestly want to give you something you will like, and are happy for the guidance.
Gussied-Up Container For this entryway arrangement in front of a Chicago home, Greenhaven Landscapes filled a pair of limestone urns with purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’), bedding mums and trailing wire vine (Muehlenbeckia sp.). The urns stand proudly above a cascade of pumpkins and gourds spilling from harvest buckets onto a bed of hay.
rosette-shaped cabbages, bright peppers or curly kale, take it to the next level by putting together a potted harvest arrangement like this one by Greenlife Gardens. Pile on pumpkins, gourds and any squashes you’ve picked from your garden, arranging them in a new container or among veggies already growing in a pot.
Cut the tops off pumpkins and empty them as if you were going to carve them. Then, tuck potted fall bloomers into the pumpkins. Mums of many colors are readily available in nurseries this time of year and will bloom all season long. Clumps of heather would also work well for this container, as they’re a perfect size and even look nice dried. Or, add faces to the pumpkins and fill them with different types of ornamental grasses to look like wild hairstyles.
Lucky-food party. Looking for a more casual alternative to the typical fancy dinner party? Host a potluck lucky-food party. Email friends in advance with a food and drinks sign-up sheet, and commit to providing anything left on the list after sign-ups. Here are a few ideas: Black-eyed peas and greens, to symbolize prosperity in the new year Long noodles for a long life Coin-shaped cookies Pork or other rich foods, for a year of riches 12 grapes to be eaten when the clock strikes midnight, representing good luck in each month of the year ahead Ring-shaped foods (bagels, doughnuts or ring cake) to symbolize a year coming full circle Fish for good luck
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Clip-on Color Walk down a tree-lined city street and keep an eye out for fall color, like these maple leaves. Pick up some pretty ones and press them in a book for an hour or two to flatten them. Then clip them to a string with miniature clothespins from the crafts store and hang them above mini pumpkins and a vase of candy corn.
Living Christmas Trees You can enjoy a living Christmas tree for several years. Choose a slow-growing or dwarf conifer that will do well in your climate zone. You can’t keep it indoors for long, but it can be brought in for brief periods for several years. During the holiday season. Choose a healthy tree in a 5-gallon, 10-gallon or 15-gallon pot. Because nursery pots aren’t very festive, simply slip it into a larger, more decorative container. Set it in a bright, sunny, somewhat cool spot near a window and away from furnace vents and fireplaces. Water regularly, keeping the soil moist. One trick is to place ice cubes on top of the soil and let them melt. Trees don’t do well inside for very long. Plan on leaving them inside for five to seven days, with a maximum of 10 days. Post-holiday care. Move your tree outside to a sheltered location out of wind and sunlight for about a week. Water deeply, saturating the root ball, and lightly hose off or wipe off the needles to remove the dust. Once the tree has adjusted to outdoor temperatures, move it into a location in full sun and water regularly. Repot if it becomes root-bound.
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