December 15th

This week is an excellent time to prune holly, boxwood, pine and other evergreens for holiday decorations. Be sure to select branches evenly around the plant to preserve its natural form.

The use of real Christmas trees is a good way to support our agricultural industry. Real Christmas trees, grown in all 50 states and Canada are a renewable, recyclable resource.

For every real tree harvested, 2-3 seedlings are planted in its place. There are about one million acres in production growing Christmas trees. Each acre supplies the daily oxygen requirement of 18 people.

Christmas tree growing provides excellent erosion control. The trees are often grown on difficult sites where traditional farm crops do not thrive.

If you are considering purchasing a live Christmas tree, the planting site should be chosen and the hole dug before the ground freezes. The soil from the hole should be kept in a frost-free location. Fill the hole with mulch or cover it with a board to avoid accidents.

After purchasing the tree, keep it outside in a sheltered location. Three days before the tree is to come into the house, bring it into an unheated garage to acclimate it to warmer temperatures. After the three days, the tree can then be brought into the house for display. Choose a place away from direct sunlight and heat. The room temperature should be no higher than 68°.

Set the tree in a large container- a 15-17 gallon galvanized tub works well. Keep the root ball moist, but never in standing water.

Be ready to take the tree out of the house after 5-7 days at the most. The longer it stays in the warm surroundings the chances for survival in the landscape diminishes.

Re-acclimate the tree to the outdoors by placing it back in the garage for a few days. Then move it to the sheltered spot and finally to its planting location. Plant the tree into the pre-dug hole filling in the hole with the saved soil and water it in. A three- inch layer of mulch can be spread over the root zone.

When selecting a fresh cut tree, look for one with bright green color and fresh aroma. Carefully bend back the ends of some branches. At temperatures above 20° the branches should not snap. Bounce the tree firmly on the ground. Avoid trees with excessive needle drop.

Once the tree is home give the trunk a fresh cut and place it in a five gallon bucket of water. Store the tree in the garage or sheltered spot until you are ready to bring it indoors.

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

After the holidays plan to recycle your tree. Use the cut off branches as mulch and the trunk for garden stakes. Or take the tree to a county park to be chipped for mulch.

Besides decking the halls with greens there are many popular flowering plants available for the season. Knowing the cultural needs of these plants will help to keep them neat and healthy.

The poinsettia prefers bright indirect light and daytime temperatures of 65-70°. Lowering the temperature at night to 60° is beneficial. Drafts and heat can cause leaf drop. The soil should be moist, not soggy. Allow the pot to dry out a bit between waterings.

Amaryllis also prefer a cool room, 55-65°, and a sunny location. Water when the top layer of the soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid over-watering or the bulb may rot. Rotate the pot regularly to keep the flower stalk growing straight. If the amaryllis has been grown in a warm room the flower stalk may require staking to keep it upright.

The Christmas cactus likes direct sunlight and high humidity. To increase humidity, place the pot on a tray of pebbles. Pour water over the pebbles to just under the top layer, so the pot does not sit in water. As the water evaporates it creates humidity around the plant.

Water the Christmas cactus when the top inch of soil feels dry. Soak the plant thoroughly and allow the pot to drain.

Cyclamen are prized for their butterfly shaped flowers of red, pink or white. They do best with very bright indirect light. Daytime temperature should not exceed 65°. Night temperature should be quite cool, 40-55°. Water when soil is dry to the touch, being careful not to let water collect in the crown of the plant.

Keep in mind that all the potted holiday plants have been growing in near perfect greenhouse conditions before they arrive in our homes. It can be difficult to duplicate these environments. But with proper care they can hold their blooms and leaves through the holiday season.

Beth Nardone, botanist, is a resident of Hillsborough and is the Nursery Manager at the Belle Mead Farmer's Coop. Questions and comments can be sent to bethtanical@hotmail.com