Keeping Your Christmas Plants Healthy

By Jos Van Hage

 No other plant says Christmas like the poinsettia.

If cared for properly they can last for many weeks in the home. The following tips should help in keeping your poinsettia healthy and beautiful during the Christmas season.

• Choose a strong stemmed plant with healthy green leaves that go down the entire length of the stem.
•  Look at the yellow buds in the center of the colored bracts as this is the true flower of the plant. The yellow buds should be unopened as this means that the flowers are young and will last a long time.
• Give the plant at least 6 hours of bright light each day.
• Every few days turn the plant slightly so that it receives even light and does not grow towards one side.
• Keep it away from drafts, heating vents, outside door entrances, and heavy traffic areas. Poinsettias prefer an even temperature of 20-25 Celsius so do not place in a cold window when outside temperatures get very cold.
• Keep the plant evenly moist but not too wet or else the leaves will drop off. Leaves will also drop if the plant is allowed to go too dry.

-Jos

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

• Highway 16 West at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulp Mill Road.

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