By AMANDA ZAMBRANO
Master Gardener Intern

WARSAW — I think plants are such a lovely gift to give at the holidays, as well as an affordable way to decorate your home. Live evergreen trees, poinsettias, and holiday cactus are all festive and bring beauty to the dreariness of winter.

Live evergreens, whether as trees, wreaths or garlands, are relatively easy to care for. Adequate water is important for the health of the plant, to prevent fires and to prevent the mess of significant needle loss.

Be sure to make a fresh cut at least one half inch from the bottom of the tree to ensure that the tree absorbs water well. Do not whittle the sides of your tree base or remove the outer layers of bark, as these layers best absorb water

Be sure your tree stand is large enough to accommodate the trunk of your tree. For other helpful hints, refer to the National Christmas Tree Association.

Poinsettias can be challenging to maintain throughout the holiday season. Avoid drastic temperature changes, and keep the temperature above 55 degrees and below 75 degrees. Poinsettias need plenty of light, so a place near a sunny window will suit them best, although be sure there isn’t a draft in the window. Do not let the potting soil dry out completely, and keep the poinsettia well watered. Fertilizer is also recommended, as the plant will use up the limited nutrients in the pot quickly.

If you’d like to try to preserve your poinsettia until next year, wait until the flowers and leaves have fallen, and then prune the poinsettia back to 3 to 5 inches above the soil line. Store the plant in a well ventilated and cool (55 degree to 59 degree) location, such as a temperature controlled garage. Water less frequently, but do not let the soil dry out.

In May, repot the poinsettia and move it to a warmer location inside. Once night temperatures reach above 60 degrees, the plant can be placed outside in a lightly shaded area. Bring the plant back indoors when temperatures cool off in late August. Fertilize every 7-10 days with one-half teaspoon 15-15-15 soluble fertilizer mixed in a quart of warm water. In order to flower again for Christmas, the poinsettia will need to be kept in an unlit room or light-tight box from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. from Oct. 1 to Thanksgiving. After this point, the buds will be well set and you’ll have beautiful poinsettias for Christmas.

Christmas cactus can also be preserved for the following year by keeping it in a sunny, cool location indoors until summer, where it can be moved out into light shade. Keep it outdoors as late in the fall as possible to promote new shoots. As soon as buds are visible, keep the cactus in a cool, bright location. Remember Christmas cactus rarely blossom in temperatures above 70 degrees. If buds begin to droop, consider repotting.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas season.

Amanda Zambrano is the director of advancement at Grace Village Retirement Community. She is a master gardener intern, just learning the ins and outs of successful gardening.

Along with her master gardener volunteering, Amanda serves on the board of directors for the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, the Symphony of the Lakes committee and a Kosciusko County Community Foundation scholarship committee. She plays flute for the Symphony of the Lakes and enjoys hand-quilting, baking and reading. She is also an occasional blogger. Amanda lives in Warsaw with her husband Dan and her son Alexander.