Archive for the ‘Christmas Plants’ Category

Christmas Herbs – Rosemary

December 2nd, 2008

  

Down with the rosemary and so,

Down with the bays and mistletoe,

Down with the holly, ivy all

Wherewith ye deck the Christmas Hall

                                    Herrick

 

Rosemary (rosmarinus)

 

In the language of flowers and plants, Rosemary is a symbol of remembrance and fidelity.

 

There are many customs, legends and myths surrounding Rosemary. As Christmas approaches (too quickly), here are a few season relevant ones:

 

The flowers of the rosemary plant used to be white until during the flight to Egypt, Mary placed her blue cloak over a rosemary shrub. The flowers turned blue overnight and rosemary has bloomed blue ever since.

 

Yet another legend of Mary and the rosemary plant, says Mary took shelter under a rosemary shrub, hence its Spanish name, Romero or Pilgrim’s Flower.

 

Then, there is the legend of the height of the rosemary plant. It says the rosemary plant grows as the Saviour grew. After thirty-three years, it will no longer grow taller, but will only grow in width.

 

An old custom is to gild a rosemary branch, adorn it with colourful ribbons and present it with a clove studded orange as a New Year’s gift.

 

Lastly, rosemary was often used in place of incense in religious ceremonies.

 

  

Over Wintering Rosemary

There is an old saying about rosemary over wintered indoors:

“The house where rosemary grows in winter is ruled by a woman”

 

Over wintering rosemary indoors is fairly simple.

 

Rosemary likes to be kept on the dry side of moist. Confused yet? Don’t be. Plant in well draining potting mix and allow the  rosemary slightlydry out between waterings.

 

Keep humidity levels up by misting the plant daily.

 

 

Place in high light, away from cold drafts.

 

Prune new growth back if it becomes spindly.

 

Keep insects under control by placing yellow sticky traps around the plant.

 

Mealy bugs, aphids and white fly are common. If the sticky traps aren’t controlling the insects, wash foliage with plain, lukewarm water, using a gentle spray.

 

Do not fertilize the plant until late March or early April. Then use at half strength, a balanced fertilizer every two weeks until the outdoor temperatures are warm enough for the plant to move outside for the summer.

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Poinsettia Care

November 23rd, 2008

Poinsettias in the greenhouse

Poinsettias, red in particular, are the most favoured to plant to give and receive at Christmas. How and why this Mexican native became so popular is due to a man named Joel R. Poinsett, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico in 1828. He was the first one to introduce the showy plant which bears his name, to North America.  Because poinsettias burst into full colour during the Holiday Season, and its bright red bracts resemblance to the Star of Bethlehem, it’s soared to fame as the plant to represent Christmas. In the century and a half since its first appearance on our continent, it has not lost it popularity.

 

When plant breeders got a hold of the poinsettia, they introduced white, pink, marbled, mottled, burgundy, and every shade of red imaginable. Not content with just offering us a variety of colours, they began playing with the foliage and we now see curly leafed and variegated leafed plants.  If you are not of big fan of red poinsettias, there is now a multitude of colours for you to choose from.

 

The coloured petals of the poinsettia are not really flowers, but bracts. The flower is actually the tiny yellow centre of the bract.

 

Poinsettias are very easy to care for. If you don’t have a green thumb or much time to fuss over a plant, then the poinsettia is for you!

 

-          As soon as you get the plant home, remove the protective sleeve. This prevents damaging ethylene from building up.

-           If you’ve purchased the poinsettias as gifts, but don’t intend on giving them right away, remove the sleeve until just before you deliver them.

 

- Place the poinsettia in a bright location, away from cold drafts. They deeply resent cold.

 

- Poinsettias do not like wet feet! Keep the soil on the dry side, but do not allow the plant to wilt. That just shortens its life.

 

- When to water? When the pot feels light. If the bracts (leaves) are beginning to wilt, you are not watering soon enough.

 

- Remove the decorative pot cover before you water.

 

- When you water, drench the pot, being careful not to splash the foliage.

 

- Fill the pot to the rim with water and allow the water to drain out the bottom of the pot. I usually water them in the kitchen sink to be sure they

  are well drained.

 

- After ten minutes or so, replace the decorative pot cover and you’re done!

 

- You should not need to fertilize the poinsettia over the holidays.

 

When the season is done, toss the poinsettia on the compost pile. If you are up to experimenting, you can attempt to keep the poinsettia over until late spring or early summer. At that point, cut back any weak growth and set it outside for the summer. Bring it indoors in early September, and you’ll be ready to force the poinsettia to show colour for your next Christmas.

 

And on a final note, Poinsettias are not poisonous! That is a myth. Research, tests and studies have proven that poinsettias are not toxic to human or animal life. The sap can, in sensitive individuals, cause a slight case of dermatitis that lasts for a very brief time.

 

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