One of the pleasures of the holiday season is the wonderful array of house plants that are available at this time of year. Aside from tidying up the yard and mulching, there is not too much interest outdoors so our attention in the Northeast turns to indoor plants. The wide variety of plants can add beauty and cheer to the winter months ahead. There are several that are welcome additions to any home.

Poinsettias, amaryllis, kalanchoe, Christmas cactus, cyclamen all do well indoors in a relatively cool environment of approximately 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and cooler at night. Each of these plants has certain optimum growing conditions and with a little care you can choose what is best for you.

A visit to your local nursery will show you the wonderful variety available in poinsettias. They come in many colors aside from red, such as pink, white, marbled and speckled as well as different heights from mini to maxi and have various petal formations Be sure to choose your plants carefully by looking for a fully mature plant. The foliage should be a deep green and undamaged or marred in any way, all the way to the soil level. The plant itself should be approximately 1 ½ to 2 times the height of pot and should look good from any angle. If you are compassionate and adopt an unbalanced “orphan” plant, its shape will limit its ability to survive and its flexibility for placement. Be sure too that the plant is healthy as is with no signs of wilting, breaking or drooping. These conditions don’t usually change once they are in your home. Avoid a plant that has too much green around the bract (leaf) edges.This indicates that the plant is not fully ripe. When you get your poinsettia home, be sure to keep it away from any heat source and direct sun. Place a saucer under the plant and make some holes if it is covered with red foil so water can seep out. Water when the plant seems dry and light. Remember to remove leaves and flowers as they die. Be sure to keep poinsettias away from “plant eating” animals and children. These plants are toxic and one should be careful.

Amaryllis is a wonderful plant to have all winter. It is a bulb that produces several large flowers on tall stems. The colors range from white, pink, salmon, to red and include stripes and other variegation. They take about 4 to 6 weeks to force from bulbs. Some may be available in full bloom now from the florist but buy another to force at home for after the holidays. Most amaryllis is available in pots so all you have to do is provide light and sparse watering until the stem starts to appear. At this point you increase watering and continue to provide light. After the flowers appear, you may need to stake the plants because the flowers are so profuse that they can become top heavy and topple the plant. When the bulb is finished blooming, the leaves appear. Continue to water until the foliage fades and then cease. Cut back the dead foliage and place in a cool place until next year when you can repeat the process. Kalanchoe provides bright clusters of small flowers in yellow, orange, pink and red giving a hint of the tropics in winter. It is a succulent that needs bright light and sparse watering when the soil begins to dry out. These also root easily from cuttings as the plant matures.

Christmas cactus is an interesting addition to the home. It is also hints of warm days and comes in vibrant colors such as pink, coral , red and white. As the name suggests, it is a cactus and should only be watered when the soil surface feels dry. Too much watering causes premature flower drop. It can bloom any time from Thanksgiving to January. Ginny Novak, a fellow master gardener, is particularly successful with Christmas cactus and recommends sunny east or southern day light exposure with complete darkness at night for success. She stops watering after the cactus has bloomed and begins again after 2 months in Feb. or March depending on bloom time.

Cyclamen are also beautifu house plants at this time of year. Their vibrant reds are pretty alone or coupled with ivy or holly in planters. They come in various shades of red, pink, and white. They like a cool, brightly lighted spot. Water cyclamen carefully, taking care not to get them too wet. Be especially careful not to get the crown wet. These plants are susceptible to rot.

Enjoy your holidays and may love bloom in your hearts as well as in your gardens.

Gardens by Judy,
---- Have your garden questions answered by Judy. Questions and answers will be included in the monthly column. Send an e-mail to: gardensbyjudy@townedigest.com

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About the author: Judy is a certified Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension who loves sharing the joys of gardening with others. She helps garden hobbyists solve their problems and is happy to provide information and suggestions about garden planning and maintenance.

Gardens by Judy prides itself in helping the home owner and garden enthusiast plan and maintain that special garden. Judy works cooperatively with the gardener. She evaluates each garden visited and consults with the gardener about his/her goals. She helps in the design of new gardens and in the re-creation and improvement of present gardens. Judy also creates beautiful container gardens to enhance decks, porches and landscapes.