Poinsettia care

Poinsettias are a Christmas favorite and modern varieties stay attractive for a long time if given proper care.

Place your poinsettia in a sunny window or the brightest area of the room, but don't let it touch cold windowpanes. The day temperature should be 65 to 75 degrees F with 60 to 65 degrees at night.

Temperatures above 75 degrees will shorten bloom life, and below 60 degrees may cause root rot. Move plants away from windows at night or draw drapes between them to avoid damage from the cold.

They are a little picky about their water. Avoid over watering because they don't like "wet feet". On the other hand, if the plant is allowed to wilt, it will drop some leaves. To maintain proper moisture examine the soil daily by sticking your finger about one inch deep into the soil. If it is dry to this depth, the plant needs water. When it becomes dry to the touch, water the plant with lukewarm water until some water runs out of the drainage hole, then discard the drainage water.

Choosing and caring for your Christmas tree

Waiting for that perfect Christmas tree to jump out at you? They're becoming short in supply, and even then, you need to be careful about what you get.

Trees that are too far gone will have dull, grayish-green color and needles will fail to ooze pitch when broken or squeezed. They'll also be stiff and brittle.

If you do find a good one, don't forget to recut the trunk about one inch above the original cut. This will open up clogged, water-conducting tissues. Immediately place the trunk in warm water.

And don't forget safety first! Avoid areas near fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, heat ducts and television sets as the heat will result in excess water loss. Make sure the reservoir stays filled. If the reservoir loses enough water that the bottom of the trunk is exposed, the trunk will need to be recut.

If needles start to fall from the tree, it's a sign its drying out, and would best be removed before it becomes more of a safety hazard. Remember, some light strands produce enough heat that they, too, can cause a tree to lose enough water to cause excessive needle drop. Use only safety approved lights. No candles allowed! Old light sets should be replaced. Be careful not to overload wall outlets and keep flammable material away from these outlets.

After you've picked the perfect tree and made sure its safe, don't forget to check the water regularly. Its not uncommon for a newly cut tree to use a quart of water during the day while you're gone.

There's also lots "home remedies" that people like to try to keep their tree green. Pennies, aspirins, soda pop, sugar, bleach and food coloring, etc. . . have all been said to add darker color to evergreens. While they don't necessarily hurt anything, they have also not been found to prolong the life of a tree.

Date: 2/20/06