Make your festive houseplants last (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Make your festive houseplants last

9:47am Saturday 24th December 2011 in Gardening By Hannah Stephenson

If the deep red leaves of the poinsettia you bought for Christmas are already drooping, or the fragrant hyacinths you hoped would last beyond Boxing Day have fallen over, you may think that you simply don’t have the magic touch with houseplants.

Yet you only need to make a few changes to perk up your festive houseplants to ensure they last into the new year.

The fallen hyacinth scenario will be irreversible – once they’ve fallen over and the flowers are starting to turn brown, the best you can hope for is that they will come back if you replant them outside next autumn.

If your poinsettia has wilted and is losing leaves, it’s likely you’ve overwatered it. The surface of the compost must be dry before you water it and never allow the plant to stand in water.

If you’ve underwatered it and the compost around the roots is dry, that can cause the same problem.

If the plant suddenly loses its leaves without wilting, it may be that it’s too cold where the poinsettia has been placed or it has been exposed to hot or freezing draughts or poor light levels.

Ideally, this plant likes a bright spot, but not in direct sunlight and a constant temperature of between 18 and 24C (64-75F).

Among the easiest of festive plants is the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata), with its spreading foliage and successive, pendulous flowers. It needs plenty of light in winter in average room temperatures, although plants bought in bloom will last longer in cooler rooms.

Avoid draughts, overwatering, turning the pot, which may lead to bud loss, and temperatures under 13C (55F). Use soft water to help maintain slightly acidic conditions.

The soil should be evenly moist for best growth and I always water mine from below, sitting the plant in a trough of water for a few minutes before draining it and putting it back.

Before attempting to water the plant again, check to see that the top inch of soil has dried thoroughly first.

Many bulbs are forced for Christmas, including narcissi, hyacinth and tulips, and do best in a bright spot in a cool room of around 10C (50F), but avoid direct sunlight and make sure the bulbs are free from draughts and kept well away from a radiator.

Keep the compost moist at all times and turn the bowl occasionally so that growth will be even. Taller varieties will need staking with pea sticks and will benefit from feeding with a liquid fertiliser.

Orchids are also a winner at Christmas and need very little attention over the festive season. Water them once a week from below, sitting the plastic pot in a bowl of water, with the addition of some orchid feed. Once the roots have had a good soaking, lift the pot out and let it stand on the draining board for around half an hour before putting it back.

Orchids like plenty of light but shade them from direct sunlight and temperatures in winter of around 15C (60F). Cool nights are important, so ideally allow a dip of three or four degrees. The leaves also need misting from time to time but avoid spraying the flowers.

With a little care, you’ll be enjoying your houseplants well into the new year.