This time of year we like to dress our homes with festive plants and of course the traditional Christmas Tree, the question is, after spending money on these, how do we prolong their life over the Christmas period?
Here are our tips for success:
Poinsettias
Watering - Examine the soil daily and when the surface is dry to the touch water the soil until it runs freely out the drainage holes in the container. If a saucer is used, discard the water that collects in it. Do not leave the plant standing in water.
Lighting - If you obtain a Poinsettia for your home place it near a sunny window where it will have the most available sunlight. Do not let any part of the plant touch the cold windowpane because this may injure it.
Temperature - To keep the plant in bloom, maintain it at a temperature at 10-20 degrees celsius during the daylight hours and if possible, move to a cooler place at night. Avoid exposing the plant to hot or cold drafts, as this may cause premature leaf drop.
Christmas Trees
1. Ensure you buy a fresh tree.
2. Once home, if you are not going to take the tree into your home immediately, place the tree in a cool, dry place out of the wind. If possible place the tree in a bucket of water, so that the tree can drink water.
3. Just before you take the Christmas Tree in the house, saw off the bottom 1 inch (3cm) of trunk. This creates a fresh cut and opens up the pores in the bark.
4. Try not to expose your tree to sudden changes in temperature.
5. Once inside the house, try to keep your Christmas Tree away from any heat sources such as radiators. Heat will dry out your tree faster.
6. Place your tree in plain water, not soil or sand which would block the pores in the bark.
7. Keep the Christmas Tree stand topped up with water. your Christmas Tree may drink 2-3 pints (1-2 litres) of water per day, depending on its size and your central heating settings.
Don’t forget if you work in an office, Shipshape can organise office plants and even Christmas Trees to brighten up your offices. These will be visited monthly for maintenance to keep them in tip-top condition.
