12/1/2003

The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the beginning of the 

holiday 

decorating for many. Wreaths and other greens have arrived at the 

garden 

centers and there seems to be a tree lot in every shopping center in 

town. Many families will go to a tree farm to select and cut their own 

tree to be assured of its freshness.

A cut tree’s freshness is actually controlled by moisture content 

rather 

than the date of cutting. Trees that are grown, harvested and handled 

properly will stay green and fresh until well after the holidays. Those 

cut after the ground is frozen actually contain less moisture than 

those 

harvested earlier. Without proper moisture content the tree will shed 

needles and become dry and brittle.

When shopping for a Christmas tree, select one with bright green color. 

Gently squeeze some needles and check for a fresh aroma. Carefully bend 

back the ends of some branches to check the flexibility. At 

temperatures 

above 20 degrees the branches should not snap. Bounce a cut tree on the 

ground firmly. Avoid purchasing a tree that has excessive needle loss. 

Check the base of the trunk for drops of sap- an indication of a fresh 

cut tree.

Once the tree is home cut ¼ inch off the base of the trunk and place it 

in a five gallon bucket of water. Keep the tree in the garage or 

basement until you are ready to set it in the house for trimming. 

Before 

you set the tree in the stand cut another ¼ inch from the bottom of the 

trunk. Select a location in the house away from heat vents or a 

fireplace.

The tree stand should hold at least gallon of water. Check the water 

level daily, never leaving the tree without water. There are recipes 

out 

there that add various ingredients meant to keep the tree fresh during 

its stay indoors. But none of them has been shown to be an improvement 

over water.

Another traditional plant is the poinsettia. This beautiful plant is 

easy to take care of, grows well in the average room and is not 

poisonous. To select a healthy plant choose one that has fully colored 

bracts (the colorful part of the poinsettia) and dense deep green 

leaves. Make sure the plant is put in a protective sleeve or large bag 

before you leave the store. Poinsettias are sensitive to cold 

temperatures.

Once the plant is home remove the bag or protective sleeve. Set the 

plant in a bright cool room. Avoid putting a poinsettia near a heat 

vent, fireplace or cold draft. Poinsettias are native to Mexico where 

it 

is warm and the soils are dry. They will need bright indirect light for 

at least six hours a day. In low light they will drop their leaves. 

Check the soil once or twice a week. Keep the soil slightly dry, water 

only when the top ½ inch feels dry. Never overwater or let the plant 

sit 

in standing water. It is a good idea to remove decorative foil from the 

bottom of the pot so the drain holes aren’t blocked.

Poinsettias grown for the holiday season have been grown in greenhouses 

with lots of light and plenty of fertilizer. You won’t need to 

fertilize 

the plant while it is in bloom. If you wish to keep the poinsettia 

after 

the holidays you can fertilize it after the flowers have dropped off. 

Then treat it as you would any other houseplant.

Perhaps the most difficult part about poinsettias is choosing among the 

many varieties available. Every year growers offer new and improved 

varieties in a wide range of color choices. Red is still the most 

popular color. The newer reds have improved characteristics such as 

deeper color, larger bracts and longer bloom. It’s not uncommon for 

today’s poinsettias to still retain good color through the winter 

months.

Besides traditional red, you can choose from pink, orange, salmon, 

rose, 

cranberry, plum and white. There are varieties with variegated bracts 

and ones with variegated leaves. And there is the novelty category with 

unique forms and color patterns. A popular novelty variety is the 

Winter 

Rose series. The curled double bracts resemble roses. This variety 

makes 

a great table decoration and has a very long bloom time. Whatever 

variety you choose you can be assured of a beautiful holiday plant that 

is safe for all family members as well as pets.

Beth Nardone, botanist, is a resident of Hillsborough and is the 

Nursery 

Manager at the Belle Mead Co-Op. Questions and comments can be sent to 

bethtanical@patmedia.net