Over the next few weeks many people will give and be given, the gift of flowering plants.

This time of year flowering plants such as Poinsettias, Azaleas, and Cyclamen are all very popular. Looking after these plants properly can add many extra weeks of enjoyment. 

The poinsettia is the most popular of all the Christmas plants. The colourful bracts come in different shades of red, white, pink, burgundy as well as double, marbled, spotted etc.

When choosing a poinsettia look for a full looking, healthy plant, that has closed flowers. The true flowers (cyathias) are a cluster of yellow buds found in the top centre of the colourful bracts. Place the poinsettia in an area of the home where the temperature is 18-22 Celsius and where it will receive at least 6 hours daily of natural sunlight. Keep it away from drafts, heating vents radiators, outside doors or where there are quick temperature changes. Keep poinsettias on the moist side. When the top of the soil feels dry, water the soil of the plant with a thorough watering and discard any excess water left in the saucer. Do not let the soil become too dry or too wet as this will cause the leaves to drop. If cared for properly a poinsettia can look good till February.

Azaleas are available at different times throughout the year and are attractive houseplants. For a long bloom time, choose a plant with lots of unopened buds and a few open flowers. Place them in an area of the home where they will receive bright light and direct sunlight over the winter months. Cooler night time temperatures of 10- 15 Celsius and daytime temperatures of 20-22 will lengthen the bloom time. Azaleas need to be kept moist but not soggy. If they become too dry the flower buds and leaves will drop off. They are an acidic loving plant and the soil they are grown in, contains a larger amount of peat moss which tends to dry out more quickly. When the soil feels dry to the touch, place the plant in a tub filled with 5-10 cm of water and allow it to soak for 30 minutes, and then place it back in its place.

Cyclamens are a beautiful indoor flowering plant, generally available during the winter months. Purchase a plant that is just beginning to flower with lots of unopened buds. Put the plant in an area that receives bright indirect light such as a north facing window. Keep the plant away from any hot dry air such as heating vents, fireplaces, or other heating sources. To prolong the blooming period, keep the plant in cooler temperatures. Cyclamens enjoy a high humidity and placing them in the kitchen or bathroom window works well or place the plant on a water filled pebble tray. When watering a cyclamen, allow the plant to soak up the water from the bottom rather then pour water on the top of the soil as you want to avoid watering the crown. When the top of the soil feels dry take the potted cyclamen and place it in a sink with 5-10 cm of water and allow the plant to soak for 30 minutes until the soil is moist. Allow the excess water to drip out before placing the plant back. Cyclamens like to be kept slightly moist but not soggy as this causes the crown to rot which in turn will cause the plant to collapse. As the flowers finish, remove them before they form seed pods. Simply hold the plant with one hand and then with the other hand reach down to the base of the stem of the finished flower and give it a good tug. The stem should easily come out at soil level. Removing the old flowers will give the plant more blooms as the plants energy will go towards producing new flowers.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George:

Highway 16 West at Kimball Road

Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road ( closed for the season)