The second week of December is a good time to check any dahlia or canna tubers you have stored in the garage for overwintering. The goal is to keep the dormant tubers slightly moist but not damp and to rub off any mildew or mold that could begin to form.
Your houseplants could also need a holiday break and gathering them together for a winter party is a good way to treat them with the added humidity that proximity creates. Here’s the steps for putting your houseplants to work as a centerpiece:
First, find a large tray or shallow basket that will fit as many of your indoor plants as possible. A serving tray with several plants or big basket lined with plastic to hold larger houseplants is ideal. Remember you won’t see much of the tray or basket so it doesn’t need a Christmas theme.
Second, arrange the plants with the tallest houseplant in the center, surrounded by lower growing and hanging or draping houseplants. The goal here is to hide the pot of the tallest plant and fill in the sides of the tray or basket with smaller houseplants.
Third, celebrate the winter season by adding pinecones, wine corks or evergreen boughs real or artificial) to completely cover any of the remaining pots visible to the eye.
Fourth, the fun part comes last. Add ornaments, ribbon, candles or anything that celebrates your holiday décor. Dirt cheap decorators save imperfect ornaments (balls with no stem for hanging or tinsel too short to swag on a tree) and recycle these to layer on top of the houseplants for added sparkle and color.
Now display your houseplant collection on a table or mantle or if you just need more room for guests, the houseplant tray is easy to move to another location during large gatherings.
Don’t forget the poinsettias!
Even one small poinsettia plant will take your grouping of houseplants from green to the real scene of Christmas colors. You don’t even need a red poinsettia to set the stage. Some of the newest poinsettias come in shades of pink, gold and cream and if you think your houseplants lack luster in winter, pairing them with a blooming indoor plant is sure to improve their enthusiasm for livening up your indoor space.
Q. Why does my poinsettia plant drop its lower leaves every year? I hear from others that potted poinsettias last until spring but every year I try to keep a healthy-looking poinsettia happy until January and soon the leaves just drop from the plant. I am careful about watering and do not let it sit in drainage water. S.N. Enumclaw
A. The two most common reasons for raining poinsettia leaves are watering issues and temperature fluctuations. If you are sure you are not over or under watering by keeping the soil moist but not wet and making sure the pot drains, then my best guess is your house is too cold at night or too warm during the day. Poinsettias like to be above 65 degrees but below 75 degrees. A cold night or draft from an open window or the warmth of sitting on top of an appliance or being forced to endure the dry air of room with a wood burning fireplace are all reasons for a poinsettia to pout, throw a fit and drop those lower leaves. The good news is if you can correct the cold or hot extremes your poinsettia plant will most likely recover and bloom until spring.
Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of “Easy Answers for Great Gardens” and several other books. For answers to gardening questions, visit plantersplace.com and click “As The Expert”. Copyright for this column owned by Marianne Binetti. For more gardening information, she can be reached at her website, www.binettigarden.com.
