Prolong life of seasonal plants with these tips

Whether used for holiday gift-giving or as a seasonal decoration, a few popular plants have become synonymous with the Christmas season, said master gardener Cathy Bruno. These plants include poinsettias and Christmas cactuses. Her tips will prolong their life in your home:

First, Bruno offers some general guidelines when purchasing any houseplants:

• Avoid any plants displayed on cold pavements or in drafty locations.

• You want the soil mix to feel slightly moist to touch, not bone dry or water-logged.

• Inspect the plant for any signs of pest infestation, or poor growing practices.

• Large gaps between leaves suggest the plant was held too long in inadequate light.

• Wrap plant well before taking it outdoors to avoid chilling it.

• Once home, remove any foil or paper to allow water to drain freely from soil.

• Avoid placing plant in drafts, near heating vents, fireplaces, windows and exterior doors.

Poinsettias: With proper care, poinsettias continue blooming for months. While blooming, its care is simple.

• It tolerates all light conditions but prefers bright light (some full sun except at midday).

• Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy.

• Poinsettias prefer average humidity (50 percent to 65 percent) and cool temperatures (60 to 75 degrees).

• If you don't plan on keeping plants, forget about fertilizing and re-potting.

• Over-watering or under-watering leads to rapid leaf drop and may cause root rot.

• Spider mites and mealybugs are possible pests.

Tips to get poinsettia to rebloom next season:

• When the plant stops flowering, cut stems back, leaving stumps 4 inches high.

• Keep soil almost dry for a few weeks.

• In early to mid-May, re-pot plant using an all-purpose potting mix.

• Provide bright light and continue watering. New shoots will soon appear.

• Feed regularly with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer.

• Remove some new growth, saving four to five strong new stems.

• Protect the plant from the hot summer sun.

• In late September, place in uninterrupted darkness for 12 to 14 hours. Poinsettias are "short-day" plants; any illumination at night will prevent plants from reflowering.

• Expose plant to bright light each morning for eight weeks, then treat normally.

Christmas cactuses: This plant, in its natural habitat, attaches to trees in South American jungles, so it is not surprising that it is different in form and growing requirements from spine-covered desert cactuses.

Although Christmas cactus is a tropical-type plant, it is not as heat- and drought-tolerant as its desert relatives. It has arching, spineless, bright green scalloped stems that bear tubular flowers in a wide range of colors in mid- to late December.

Growing tips to keep cactuses blooming longer:

• Do not let soil get dry or it may drop its flowers.

• Plants will keep blossoms longer in cooler temperatures.

• Avoid moving plants once flower buds appear.

• Drafts and temperature extremes also cause buds to drop before opening.

• Prune dead or damaged stems throughout the year.

• Any exposure to extreme temperatures; those below 40 degrees and above 95 degrees may damage the plant.

• Low light causes spindly growth.

• Mealybugs are possible pests.

• The plant's flat stems may accumulate dust, so clean as necessary for healthy growth. Dampen a clean cloth or soft sponge with mild, unscented soapy water. Support the leaf in one hand while gently wiping away from the stem. Avoid cleaning new growth.

Christmas cactuses are frequently passed from one generation to the next. Unfortunately, they can be reluctant bloomers. Bruno prescribes the following to produce flowers from one year to the next:

• In October, place plant in uninterrupted darkness for a full 12 to 14 hours. It is also a short-day plant, so any illumination at night will prevent reflowering.

• Expose it to bright light again in the morning for about eight weeks.

• While in darkness, keep temperatures about 50 to 55 degrees to form flower buds.

• Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy.

• Once buds form, place plant in medium light and normal room temperature.

• Apply a weak solution of liquid houseplant fertilizer weekly during growing season.

• After blooming, keep plant in a sunny location, such as an east-facing windowsill.

• Protect plant by avoiding direct sunlight and withholding water for four to six weeks.

• When new growth appears, lightly top-dress with fresh soil.

• Re-pot only when pot fills with roots.

• Use a prepared potting mix especially formulated for African violets.

• Water thoroughly when top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels dry to touch.

• Waterings vary depending on size, container, temperature, growth and relative humidity.

• Withhold fertilizer for approximately eight to 12 weeks after flowering.

"Unfortunately, even the best of care rarely produces a plant as dense and lovely as it was during its first year," Bruno said.

MUM SHOW WINNERS

Winners of this year's mum show were: Ruth Ann Waite for Best Disbudded Bloom with Mount Shasta irregular incurve, and she was runner-up with Golden Splendor, a spider; Best Multiple Cut Blooms with 3 Mount Shasta. Dotti Fogg won Best Container Grown with a spider called Lava, Philip Chin was Novice winner with an irregular incurve called River City. Finally, Ruth Ann Waite took sweepstakes (most blue ribbons) and Dotti Fogg was runner-up.

'WINTER LIGHTS FESTIVAL'

The Springs Preserve continues its first festival. The light display of more than a half-million LED lights throughout the preserve are a leading example of a sustainable holiday celebration.

Go to the Web site springspreserve.org for events taking place during the holiday season. It is open Fridays through Sundays, starting Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. It will be open daily Dec. 24 through 30.

Cost of admission to the gardens is $4 for adults and $2 for children; the galleries are $9 for adults and $4.50 for children.

Linn Mills writes a gardening column each Thursday. You can reach him at lmills@reviewjournal.com or at the Gardens at the Springs Preserve at 822-7754.