Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Petal picks for the season

Halloween jack-o'-lanterns have been darkened. Scary decor has come down.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, home interiors and exteriors will soon welcome hints of the season with decor that includes holiday flowers and plants adorning tabletops, porches and windowsills. In the coming days, stores, nurseries and flower shops will begin stocking those flowers and plants that are most popular during the holiday season. Poinsettias, Christmas cacti, amaryllis, paperwhites, carnations, cushion mums and red roses take top billing this time of year, favored for their vibrant color and how well they blend with holiday greenery.

Mandy Lowrimore, floral designer with Lazelle's Flower Shop, said a mixed arrangement with Christmas greenery, featuring carnations and cushion mums, are most popular during the holidays. They are ideal for birthdays, get-togethers and as hostess gifts.

"I prefer not to use roses because they don't last that long," Lowrimore said. "I like to use carnations and mums because they'll last two to three weeks. ... You get more for your money."

The important thing to remember about mixed arrangements should you purchase or receive one is making sure to keep them cool and watered, Lowrimore said.

Whether you purchase your own holiday flowers or receive them as a gift, there are things you can do to make them last through the season. George Weich, vice president of horticulture at Brookgreen Gardens, said amaryllis and paperwhites are among his favorite holiday florals. The key is forcing the bulbs to bloom in time for the holiday season.

"Amaryllis takes three to five weeks and paperwhites will flower in about three weeks," Weich said. "So you still have time to do it."

Here are some care tips for the most popular holiday flowers, courtesy of Weich and Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Center:

Poinsettias

Tidbit: Red is by far the most popular color in poinsettias, but breeders have been able to produce varieties that produce pink, peach, yellow, marbled and speckled bracts, allowing homeowners to more easily blend the plants with non-traditional holiday decorating color schemes.

Picking a poinsettia: Choose plants with colorful bracts and dark, rich green foliage. The plant should be full and balanced on all sides. Avoid those with droopy leaves and bracts or those with stems that feel too flexible. They should feel stiff and hardy.

Caring for the plant: Place the poinsettia in a bright location, ensuring it gets at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight. Avoid drafts and excessive heat. If you display it outside, avoid temperatures below 50 degrees. Bring it indoors during the evening hours.

Water when the soil surface feels dry to the touch. Remove the decorative pot cover and water until it seeps out of the drainage hole, which ensures it has been completely saturated. Do not fertilize a blooming poinsettia.

Displaying a poinsettia: They are best viewed from above. ``Use them on the ground,'' Weich said. ``I prefer to look down on them.'' Use them on a low table or on the floor near a tree or large wreath. Bunch them in three's for a bigger impact, Weich suggested.

Christmas cactus

Tidbit: The Christmas cactus is available in a variety of colors, including red, purple, oranges, pinks and creams.

Caring for the plant: A flowering Christmas cactus tolerates dry, slightly under-watered conditions and requires good light. Avoid overwatering or allowing it to completely dry out. Water when it is dry to the touch. Fertilize plants monthly from the time new growth starts in late winter or early spring, and throughout summertime, but reduce fertilizing during the fall and early winter.

This is one plant that does well somewhat pot-bound, requiring repotting only once in three years. Because the plant does not grow well in heavy, wet mixes, a preferred mix is one part potting soil, two parts peat moss or compost, and one part sharp sand or perlite.

Displaying a Christmas cactus: Because of its pendulous stems, Christmas cacti are best displayed in hanging baskets.

Amaryllis

Tidbit: Bulbs can be forced to bloom by placing on a windowsill in soil or in water. Bulbs are best planted singularly in a pot for displaying.

Caring for the bulb: Grow in a well-lighted area, such as a windowsill, in temperatures from 70 to 75 degrees. Water thoroughly, keeping the soil moist until flowering occurs. Reduce watering once flowering starts. Fertilize once leaves appear, but not before, using a soluble fertilizer for potted plants.

Caring for the flowering plant: Once the plant flowers and finishes blooming, remove the blossom as soon as it fades to prevent seed formation. Cut the stem off just above the bulb and then place in a sunny window. Care for it as you did for the initial bulb planting until its time to initiate reflowering, which requires halting watering and fertilizing for 8 to 10 weeks once the leaves again appear. The leaves will yellow and wither once watering and fertilizing has stopped. When the flower bud begins to appear, put the pot in a sunny area and resume watering again. Cut away the dried foliage.

Displaying an amaryllis: These plants are best displayed as a single specimen. "They don't clump well," Weich said. "They make an elegant, simple statement by themselves. Put them on a table."

Paperwhites

Tidbit: Paperwhites are a member of the Narcissus or daffodil species, and are highly fragrant and easily forced to bloom.

Caring for the bulb: Plant several bulbs in a pot with potting soil and drainage holes. The soil should be loose to allow for root development. They also can be planted in a low dish with gravel and water.

Grow them in a cool location for best results. Once they bloom, move them to a more prominent place in your home.

Displaying paperwhites: These plants are best displayed in groups, but remember, these highly fragrant flowers can scent the whole house. So use sparingly, Weich recommended.