an important part of the displays.
There are many plants that are decorative and can be used for the fall and the winter holidays.
Amaryllis bulb kits are available at your local grocery stores, big box stores, on line and at your independent garden centers. These kits include an amaryllis bulb, soil, and a pot to plant them in. After they are planted it takes six to eight weeks for them to bloom. Shades of white, red, pink are the colors that the flowers come in. The blooms can also be single or double blooms. Keep the soil moist and the plant in a bright light location. When they are done blooming, you can plant them in your garden.
A newer trend with Amaryllis is to have waxed bulbs. These amaryllis are sealed with wax, and do not need to be watered. Just keep in these plants in a well lite location. Like the bulb kit, they should bloom in six to eight weeks.
There are even spring bulbs that can be forced for winter color and scent. Paperwhites, which is related to Daffodils, is a white bulb. Hyacinths in blue, white, yellow and pink are a strongly scented spring bulb. To force the bulbs, you will want to make sure that the bulbs have been prechilled. Or you can chill them yourself in your refrigerator for six weeks. Once the bulbs arrive prechilled or you have chilled your own, it’ s time to pot them up. They can be placed in water and gravel, and should bloom in about six weeks.
Norfolk Island Pine trees are indoor plants that can be used as a miniature Christmas tree. Miniature ornaments can be used on these trees, as they are light weight. The branches can not hold a lot of weight. They are sold as plants that range in height from 12 inches tall to several feet tall. As an indoor plant, they need bright light, and water when the soil is dry to the touch.
Christmas and Thanksgiving Cactus are another plant available during the holidays. Peach, white, red, bi color are among the colors that they bloom in. These plants are as heirloom plants that can be passed down in families for several generations.
Poinsettias are the plant that is available from big box stores, florist, grocery stores and the independent garden centers starting around Thanksgiving. Large, small, and tiny are the various sizes that these plants come in. Poinsettias enjoy bright light and watering when the soil is dry to the touch. If you live or visit Texas south of San Antonio Poinsettias can live outside planted in the ground.
Red is the most popular color. Though poinsettias come in pink, white, yellow, orange, bi colors, and splashes of color. Some companies use florist spray paints to add glitter or to make multi colored plants. As an indoor plant, they will keep their color until after New Year’ s Day. The part of the plant that becomes red or another color, is actually a modified leaf. The actual flower is the small yellow middle.
How ever you celebrate the holidays, include some fresh pine, flowers and plants to add more cheer to your event.
Joyce Block is a degreed horticulturist and lives in Alvarado.
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