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The Master Gardener Articles
What
are some plants I could use as part of my indoor winter holiday decorations?
Please briefly discuss requirements of the most common ones.
The following article was taken from The Ohio State University Plant Facts Web Site
Please briefly discuss requirements of the most common ones.
The following article was taken from The Ohio State University Plant Facts Web Site
Garden centers and florist shops are marketing several different plants for winter holiday decorations inside the home. Before you buy, consider the requirements of each plant and determine if they can be met in your home through the holiday period. Though the poinsettia is the traditional holiday flowering plant, others can be enjoyed as well. Christmas cactus, cyclamen, Jerusalem cherries, Christmas peppers, amaryllis, azalea, begonia, gloxinias, and kalanchoes are all used at holiday time.
The poinsettia is a favorite holiday plant, and though red is the all time
favorite, there are many other colors and variations available. This plant
requires a sunny location and cool temperatures of 65-70 degrees F; move
the plant to a slightly cooler location at night. Water when the soil surface
is dry to the touch, but don't let this plant dry too much or leaves may
drop prematurely. Poinsettias are often purchased for holiday decoration,
then discarded afterwards. However, it is possible to rebloom plants if a
year long scheduled of care is followed. 
Christmas cactus is a plant that can live for years and is often passed down
through family generations. This plant can have pink, red, cream, orange,
or purple flowers. Locate the plant in full sun through the mid-winter months,
and move it to a more shaded location from spring through fall. Keep the
plant in a 70-80 degree F location and water when the soil is dry to the
touch; avoid over watering. Bud drop can be a problem with this plant and
can be caused by a sudden change in temperatures or temperatures that are
too high; a soil mix that is too dry; an excessive number of buds; or inappropriate
light level. Cyclamen are beautiful plants, but a bit difficult to care for. They bloom through February, then enter a resting period for a couple of months. However, this plant is difficult for the average gardener to rebloom and most often it is discarded after the holidays. They can have pink, red, rose, purple or white flowers. Locate the plant in a cool and bright area; an east or northern exposure will work. Cool is 50-60 degrees F! Let the soil surface dry between watering, but keep the soil mix evenly moist. Fertilize the plant every two weeks while it is flowering, using a liquid fertilizer labeled for flowering plants.
Jerusalem cherries are less
common and sometimes difficult to find, but are beautiful plants. These plants
sport orangish-red berries rather than a showy flower. Keep plants in a sunny
location at 60-70 degrees F and slightly cooler at night. They will bloom
over a longer period the cooler they are kept. One caution with this plant
- the berries are poisonous, so be careful if displaying it around small
children.
Related to Jerusalem cherry is Christmas pepper, also valued for its showy fruit. Requirements are similar to the Jerusalem cherry. One caution here is that the peppers are very hot and should not be eaten; again, be careful if small children are around.
OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, OSU Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 ( Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.
Revised November, 2006