Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Cyclamen: A Holiday Favorite



The perfect accompaniment to holiday decorating.
By Tracy A. Smith | Email the author | December 12, 2009
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If you are looking for a gift or home accent this holiday season that is either different than a poinsettia or a perfect compliment to one, cyclamen is the answer.

Today's florist cyclamen are hybrids of the cyclamen that were originally native to Greece and Syria. They are actually considered to be a low growing herb and a member of the primrose family. Their colorful, long lasting flowers and heart-shaped leaves are attractively veined with silver and have made them very popular as centerpiece and gift plants.

Cyclamen flowers may be single, double, fringed, bicolor, or even striped. Colors range from exquisitely pure white to all shades of pink, lavender, purple, red, and a dark wine-like shade. Some of the miniature strains can be delightfully scented. In addition, today's hybrids can be maintained over a wide temperature range from the upper 30's to normal home temperatures. Individual flowers as well as the blooming season will be extended if the plants can be kept at cooler temperatures rather than warmer.

Provide part sun through full sun, or the artificial light equivalent, to keep plants compact and flowers from stretching and failing to open. Plants grown in insufficient light typically stretch and become weak. Lower leaves will fade and yellow.

Care in the Home

  • Cyclamen should be watered thoroughly when the soil looks and feels dry on the surface. Do not over water or allow the plants to stand in water for any length of time. Plants that are allowed to wilt or get too much water will get yellow leaves.
  • As part of regular maintenance, spent blooms should be plucked.
  • Fertilize plants lightly while in bloom. During late spring and summer when not in bloom, the fertilizer rate should be cut in half.
  • Year round, it is important to provide good air movement around your plants. Plants that are in tight quarters and placed too tightly together are prone to fungal attack.

Cyclamen can provide a real pop of color over the holidays and well cared for plants will continue to bloom well into early spring before going dormant.

For more gardening information, or to submit your own questions, feel free to email me at tracy@parkerplants.com.

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Monday, December 7, 2009

The Beloved Poinsettia



Essential tips for buying and care of this great holiday plant.
By Tracy A. Smith | Email the author | December 4, 2009

What shows that the holidays are here more so than the beloved poinsettia? These beautiful plants (actually native to Mexico) bloom from late November well into January and some are even still going strong into February! Paired with a decorative pot and some ferns or ivy to add a splash of green, they are ideal holiday decorations for any home, office space, and/or business.

When thinking of poinsettias, most people envision red or white, but there are many more colors: shades of pink, marble, salmon, and red & white mixed, just to name a few.

An assortment of these plants can be found at a number of local Scotch Plains and Fanwood garden shops and stores. When buying one, be sure to look for sturdy stems that will not break easily. The actual flower is located in the middle of the colorful bracts. These should be relatively tight to ensure the longest bloom. Make sure that there is no curling or brittleness to the leaves and bracts.

Poinsettias should be placed in a bright area in your home or office. They benefit most from at least 4 hours of indirect sunlight per day. They grow best in temperatures averaging 70 degrees. Placement to close to fireplaces, heating units, and even on televisions is not ideal. Likewise, they should not be displayed near areas that will be subject to cold temperatures or drafts, such as a commonly used doorway.

Check your poinsettia for water daily. They should be evenly moist - never reaching a point of total dryness, but never soggy as well. While blooming, poinsettias do not require fertilizer.

When buying your poinsettias, be sure to get them home as soon as possible. Very susceptible to cold damage, they should never be left outside in a cold vehicle for any length of time.

With the proper placement and care, your poinsettia will give you color that can last up to three months!

For more gardening information, or to submit your own questions, feel free to email me at tracy@parkerplants.com.

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Christmas Trees: Choosing the Right Tree for You



Frasier and Balsam firs are among the best.
By Tracy A. Smith | Email the author | November 30, 2009
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Another Thanksgiving is behind us, and now December and Christmas are fast on their way. For many of us in Scotch Plains and Fanwood, it is again time to choose a beautiful and fragrant fresh cut tree to decorate our homes and enhance our holiday celebration.

When selecting a fresh cut tree, the best choices are the Frasier fir and the Balsam fir.

Frasier Firs are native to the southern Appalachian Mountains. Its needles are extremely fragrant and are a beautiful silver and green color. They have strong, natural symmetry which simply makes it an attractive tree. It has strong branches, excellent for heavier, larger ornaments. he Frasier Fir also has excellent needle retention.

Balsam fir is the traditional variety used as a cut Christmas tree. It has the familiar room-filling pine scent, and an amazingly dense perfect cone shape. Branches are strong for ornament hanging, and its lush green needle color is delightful.

A cut tree will last the entire holiday season with the proper care.

Before placing the tree into its stand, give the bottom of the trunk a fresh cut, at least an inch thick and straight across. When the tree is first cut at the tree farm, the sap forms a seal over the bottom that will keep it from absorbing water. A fresh cut removes this seal and allows the tree to begin to "drink" water again.

Be sure that the tree stand holds ample water and replenish it often enough that the water level does not fall below the bottom of the trunk. A tree with a 2-inch diameter trunk usually uses about 2 quarts of water per day and a 4-inch diameter trunk will require over a gallon of water per day. Adding a tree preservative will give the tree nutrients that it needs while living in your home.

Fresh Christmas trees should be displayed well away from heating vents and/or fireplaces.

For more gardening information, or to submit your own questions, feel free to email me at tracy@parkerplants.com.


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