Now is the time of year when we begin to see holiday plants and bulbs for sale all over the place - poinsettias, amaryllis, Christmas cacti, and others. Maybe you want to grow an Amaryllis bulb for bloom at Christmas, or perhaps you have a Christmas cactus that never blooms. Or do all of the leaves fall off of your poinsettia prematurely? Here are a few hints for caring for these plants.
If you want an amaryllis bulb to bloom for the holidays, it is fun to start it yourself. Bulbs can range in price from a few dollars to $20 or more each. The price difference is a reflection of the size of the bulb, and consequently the plant, and the newness and beauty of the hybrid. I would make my decision on how much to pay for a bulb based upon whether I was going to try to keep the bulb and bring it to bloom for many years. If all you want is a plant to last one season, then the inexpensive bulbs are fine and beautiful.
If you want an amaryllis bulb to bloom for the holidays, it is fun to start it yourself. Bulbs can range in price from a few dollars to $20 or more each. The price difference is a reflection of the size of the bulb, and consequently the plant, and the newness and beauty of the hybrid. I would make my decision on how much to pay for a bulb based upon whether I was going to try to keep the bulb and bring it to bloom for many years. If all you want is a plant to last one season, then the inexpensive bulbs are fine and beautiful.
Amaryllis typically take 6 to 8 weeks from the time you plant them until they are in full bloom. The flowers last about 2 weeks. Therefore, you should plant your bulbs in early to mid November for Christmas bloom. It is fun to have several bulbs and start them at one-week intervals to assure a prolonged bloom period.
If you want to keep your Amaryllis from year to year you should cut off the flower stalk when it has finished blooming. Keep the plant in a sunny window and keep watering it. Feed it with a water-soluble houseplant food once a month. You may move the plant outdoors for the summer but do not plant it in the ground. In August or September the leaves will start to turn yellow. Slow down watering and stop feeding. When the leaves die completely, cut them off and stop watering completely. Move the container to a cool dark place. When you want the bulb to grow and bloom again move it to a bright window and start watering and fertilizing. Do not repot Amaryllis frequently. Leave them in the same pot for three to four years.
Care of a poinsettia is simple, but there are a few tricks for keeping it attractive. First, be careful when you purchase the plant and bring it home. Try to buy your plant when it has just arrived at the store especially if it is in a paper or plastic plant sleeve. Remove the sleeve immediately when you get the plant home. If a plant sleeve stays in place more than 24 hours, the ethylene gas produced by the plant will cause the leaves to begin falling off. When you are bringing a poinsettia home, protect it from cold and drafts –these also cause the plant to drop its leaves.
At home, put your plant in indirect or filtered light. Do not place it in a bright southern or western exposure, on a hot television, near a heat vent or a draft from a door, or in a place where there is no natural light. All of these can cause leaf drop or the premature demise of your plant. Allow the soil of a poinsettia to get semi-dry between waterings. Make sure you drain off all excess water when you do water it. With the proper care, your poinsettia will last for months.