Master Gardenersm Column for the Week of November 21, 2005
Carol Weaver
Brunswick County Extension Master Gardenersm Volunteer
Your tree, lights and other traditional seasonal decorations of the season may be enhanced by adding flowering plants to your holiday décor this season. Some of my favorite indoor plants at this time of the year include poinsettias, cyclamen, amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus.
Poinsettias may be the most traditional of the indoor holiday plants, but today’s poinsettias do not necessarily look like the ones you remember from your childhood. Today the bracts (the colored portions of the plant -- the actual flowers are the yellow centers) can be found in red, white, pink, rose, coral and salmon, and the color may be marbled, spotted or solid.
When you shop for a poinsettia, look for plants with dense, plentiful foliage all the way to the soil line. Plants should appear balanced, full and attractive from all angles. A generally accepted standard is that the plant should be 2 1/2 times taller than the diameter of the container. Select plants with stiff stems, good bract retention and no signs of wilting, breaking or drooping. When transporting the plant, shield it from chilling winds and temperatures below 50° F by slipping it into its sleeve or a large shopping bag.
Poinsettias need protection from direct south or west sun. If the light from a window is sufficient for reading, it will be adequate for your poinsettias. They do well in daytime temperatures in the 70’s and prefer a night temperature of 60-65. Avoid placing them near a heating vent, where they touch a cold window or in a draft. The soil should be kept uniformly moist and may require watering two or three times a week. In a warm house in late winter, the poinsettia often loses its leaves unless it is watered almost daily.
Cyclamen have thick dark green leaves that are marbled with silver. Their leaves may be round or heart shaped and have toothed margins. Its flowers, which may be pink, rose, white, red or purple, have recurved petals that look as if they have been turned "inside out" and appear atop succulent eight-inch long stems.
Cyclamen do not tolerate warm temperatures. A cool room (55°-60°) is ideal. They prefer bright indirect light and love humid air. Keep the soil moist but not wet. Water them in the morning so the excess moisture can evaporate off the crown since cyclamen can get crown rot. Once the plant has finished blooming, it is probably time to discard it. It is difficult to get this plant to re-flower.
Paperwhite narcissus is one of the easiest flowering bulbs for homeowners to force. Several types are available. Some cultivars, such as Ziva and Nazereth, have pure white flowers while others, such as Grand Soleil D’or, have white perianths with light yellow cups. Most have a strong fragrance that people tend to either love or hate. Paperwhites originate in the Mediterranean and are tender bulbs, but can be grown outside in hardiness zones 8 to 11. Paperwhites can be forced using 3- to 4-inch deep decorative containers that do not have drainage holes. To force the bulbs using this system:
If you are planting your paperwhites in a pot with drainage holes, use a well-drained, sterilized planting medium with a pH of 6 to 7. Any width pot can be used, depending upon the number of bulbs to be forced. Use a pot that is 3 to 4 inches deep, and plant the bulbs with the noses even or slightly below the rim of the pot. After planting, water the medium thoroughly and keep it moist.
While awaiting flowering, which will take four to eight weeks, keep the container in an area of the home that is no warmer than 60 to 65° F. Paperwhites will flower under any light conditions. For best results, however, initially place them in a window area with a southern exposure. When the plants begin to flower, remove them from direct sunlight and place plants in the coolest area of your home to prolong the flowering period.
Amaryllis is a tropical bulb that produces large, lily-type flowers. Most bulbs sold are greater than 8 inches (20 cm) in circumference, and are Dutch, Israeli, or South African-grown. They produce 2 to 6 flowers per floral stalk. Very large bulbs normally produce 2 flower stalks. Flower colors are red, white, pink, orange, salmon, and bicolored (mostly whites with pink or red flushes). Plant heights range from 18 to 36 inches.
They must be planted in well-drained soil with ˝ - 1/3 of the bulb remaining above the soil's surface. Amaryllis thrive in bright diffused light or full sun and average to warm temperatures. Do not allow the night temperature to drop below 55°. They will bloom in seven to ten weeks after planting.
Remove the blossoms as they fade and keep the soil evenly moist, but not wet. Amaryllis respond well to high fertilization, but you should wait until flowering is completed before fertilizing if you plan to get them to re-flower next year, or to plant them in your yard in the spring.
Send your gardening questions or comments to: Brunswick County Master Gardener Column, P.O. Box 109, Bolivia, NC 28422, or call (910) 253-2610. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if requesting information or a reply. Answers may be printed in this column.
For further information or assistance, please e-mail:
Charlie Spencer,
Brunswick County Extension Master GardenersmVolunteer
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Date Created 11/30/2005