In The Garden
Friday, December 24, 1999
File photo
You can plant your Norfolk pine in the ground,
but give some thought to the location because
the tree can grown to 40 feet.
WHEN the Christmas season comes to an end, it doesn't mean the end of your holiday plants. Some can be kept looking pretty through most of spring, and others can last for years to become a family tradition every Christmas. Give yule plants
another holiday season
with proper carePoinsettia is really a cool-weather plant, so it won't be worth your effort to keep it going for next year. But it can stay a good-looking houseplant for a couple of months with proper care. Make sure it's watered, or else the leaves and the red bracts (commonly referred to as the flowers) will fall off when the soil is dry. But don't overwater, and give it plenty of light without direct sun.
For more information about caring for poinsettia, see "In the Garden" published Dec. 3.
Christmas cactus, Christ Child's Flower and Norfolk pine can do very well in the islands year after year -- and without a lot of fuss.
Christmas cactus, which also commonly includes the Thanksgiving cactus that bears a close resemblance, originated in the mountains of Brazil where it enjoys a shaded and moist environment. In its natural habitat, it grows as orchids do, clinging to tree trunks with bare roots.
After the plant finishes flowering, give it a little rest. Keep it in the shade. Christmas cactus is best kept in containers with rich and porous soil. Repot only when the root system has outgrown the pot.
Prune the plant if you want a fuller, rounder shape. Break off branches at the joints, and lay the cuttings flat in moist soil to start new plants. Avoid regular pruning to allow the plant to grow, and it can become a good-sized houseplant in several years. A big hanging basket of Christmas cactus with hundreds of trumpet-shaped blossoms is a real showpiece by the front door.
The plant can go indoor or outdoor as long as it gets plenty of light and no harsh sun. In late fall, move the plant to where it is cool and totally dark at night in order to encourage flowering. Remember the plant still needs a lot of light, but only during the day, to flower.
Fertilize with a slow-release and balanced fertilizer about once a month until mid-September. Then fertilize about every two months, and do not fertilize once the plant is in bloom.
Christ Child's Flower, also known as Little Child's Flower or Little Boy Flower, is a close relative of the poinsettia. As the days grow shorter in the winter, the evergreen plant becomes covered with a halo of perfectly white, flower-like clusters. The clusters are bracts that turn snowy with the appearance of the real flowers, which are insignificant spikes in the center.
Christ Child's Flower, which can be grown as a small tree in a container, is best kept outside where it can get lots of sun. It is a very adaptable plant, suitable for anywhere in the islands except the salty and sandy beaches. Grow one in a pot and pair it with red poinsettia next year to add a dramatic accent by the front door.
Prune the plant to the desired shape and height after flowering. In fact, pruning in late winter allows a more showy flowering next year. To get best flowering, place it in a spot sheltered from any light source at night in September.
Norfolk pine has been a hardy staple in the islands as a local Christmas tree. It must be moved outside to get full sun after it's done its holiday duties. Repot with fresh soil every year, and move it to a bigger pot as needed. If the plant has reached the desired size, trim the roots and keep it in the same pot with new soil.
If you plant it in the ground, find a location that will give it plenty of room to grow. Norfolk pine can reach 30 to 40 feet high, making relocation a major headache.
The Norfolk pine is hardy and doesn't require special care. But regular watering and fertilizing will ensure a good-looking tree next year.
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