Care Of Christmas Flowers

Often at this time of year I get lots of calls about the care of Christmas flowers. So the following is a guide to help you care for your Christmas flowering pot plants.

Deck the halls with this! It's a holly border.
Deck the halls with this! It's a holly border.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia.

Light: Bright light but out of direct sun.

Water: Allow soil surface to dry out between waterings then water well. Do not let the plant stand in water.

Temperature

  • Day: 65° - 70° F (18° - 21° C).
  • Night: 60° - 65° F (15° - 18° C).
  • Avoid areas of dry heat eg. TV radiators etc.

What to expect: Will last 2-3 months.

Poinsettia & Mum

Light: Bright light but out of direct sun.

Water: Allow soil surface to dry out between waterings then water well. Do not let the plant stand in water.

Temperature

  • Day: 65° - 70° F (18° - 21° C).
  • Night: 60° - 65° F (15° - 18° C).

What to expect: Chrysanthemums will last 2-3 weeks; Poinsettia will last 2-3 months.

Azalea

White Azalea.

Light: Bright indirect light (can be outside in shady spot in summer after chance of frost).

Water: Keep soil constantly moist to touch. Do not let stand in water. As house plant, place a wide saucer filled with gravel underneath plant, add water to gravel as needed.

Temperature

  • Day: 60° - 65° F (15° - 18° C).
  • Night: 55° - 65° F (13° - 15° C).

What to expect: Will last 2-4 weeks.

Holly

Holly.

Light: Bright light.

Water: Evenly moist with some surface drying. Will tolerate standing in water to suck up moisture for a short period of time. Must not become water logged.

Temperature

  • Day: 55° - 60° F (13° - 15° C).
  • Night: 40° - 45° F (5° - 7° C).
  • Will tolerate slightly higher temps using a humidity tray.

What to expect: Seasonal plant only in your home.

Cyclamen

Cyclamen.

Light: Bright indirect light.

Water: Only allow soil surface to dry between waterings, then moisten. Do not allow plant to sit in water or soil to become waterlogged as root rot quickly spreads to the bulb.

Temperature

  • Day: 55° - 65° F (15° - 21° C).
  • Night: 55° - 64° F (13° - 18° C).

What to expect: Will last 2-4 months, each bloom lasting 2-3 weeks.

Christmas Cherry

Christmas Cherry.

Light: Bright indirect light to full sun.

Water: Soil should be moist but allow surface to become partially dry between waterings.

Temperature

  • Day: 65° - 70° F (18° - 21° C).
  • Night: 50° - 55° F (10° - 13° C).

What to expect: House plant with bright orange-red fruit throughout winter, white flowers in summer-fall. May go outside in summer. Fruit is not edible, very poisonous.

Christmas Pepper

Christmas Pepper.

Light: Bright diffused light to full sun.

Water: Only allow soil surface to dry between waterings, then moisten. Do not allow plant to sit in water or soil to become waterlogged.

Temperature

  • Day: 70° - 75° F (21° - 24° C).
  • Night: 60° - 65° F (15° - 18° C).

What to expect: Edible very hot peppers of bright yellow, orange, red or purple, lasting 1-2 months.

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe.

Light: Bright light to direct sun.

Water: Soil should be barely moist. Allow soil to become quite dry between waterings.

Temperature

  • Day: 65° - 70° F (18° - 21° C).
  • Night: 60° - 65° F (15° - 18° C). Tolerates 50° - 60° F (10° - 15° C).

What to expect: 2-6 weeks of bloom.

Christmas Cactus

Christmas Cactus.

Light: Bright indirect light.

Water: Allow surface to dry between waterings. Do not allow to sit in water.

Temperature

  • Day: 60° - 70° F (18° - 21° C).
  • Night: 55° - 65° F (13° - 18° C).

What to expect: 2-4 weeks of bloom. May be re-bloomed 3-4 times a year.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum.

Light: Bright indirect light.

Water: Uniformly moist with just soil surface drying between waterings. Do not stand in water.

Temperature

  • Day: 65° - 70° F (18° - 21° C).
  • Night: 50° - 60° F (10° - 16° C).

What to expect: 3-4 weeks of blooms.

Gardenia

Gardenia.

Light: Bright light but not direct sun (can be put outside in shady spot in summer after all chance of frost).

Water: Keep soil constantly moist. Do not let sit in water. Place a wide saucer filled with gravel underneath the plant and add water as needed.

Temperature

  • Day: 70° - 75° F (21° - 24° C).
  • Night: 62° - 65° F (17° - 18° C).

What to expect: Fragrant white flowers last 3-4 days for 2-3 months.

Norfolk Island Pine

Norfolk Island Pine.

Light: Bright light but out of direct sun.

Water: Allow soil surface to dry out between waterings then water well. Do not let the plant stand in water.

Temperature

  • Day: 65° - 70° F (18° - 21° C).
  • Night: 60° - 65° F (15° - 18° C).

What to expect: Evergreen houseplant that can be carefully decorated for Christmas.

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