- Author: Dohee Kim
How to select and care for a tree: With a tree, safety is an important consideration. In selecting the right tree for decorating, most people look for a tree that is healthy, free from damage and well trimmed. They generally want a tree that tapers gently to a full bottom with ample number of branches for ornaments.
For a window display, the tree should look good from all sides. For a tree against a wall or in a corner, the tree should have two or three good sides.
Quality trees will be fresh, with pliable needles that are firmly attached to the branches; clean (free of moss, lichen, vines and other foreign matter), healthy with good color; and well trimmed.
To pick out the "perfect" pre-cut tree, decided on the tree that is the right height for your home, with strong limbs and resilient, attached needles. The most common species of fresh-cut trees are the Douglas, balsam and noble firs as well as the Monterey pine. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the cut portion of the treet trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree is dry and a fire hazard.
Before setting the tree in your home, saw about one inch off the bottom and make sure the tree stand holds plenty of water at all times. The average six foot tree needs a stand that holds about a gallon. If there will be a delay in setting up the tree, be sure to store it in a shady location with the tree standing in a bucket of water.
Observing fire-safety precautions is very important. A tree can fill a room with fire and deadly gases very rapidly. Do not place the tree close to a heat source, such as a furnace-forced air outlet or fireplace. The tree will get dry. Also, check light cords for fraying and loose bulbs and connections. Be sure to turn off tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed.
Poinsettias
If properly cared for, new varieties of poinsettias provide several weeks of holiday color. A poinsettia plant require bright light and should be kept away from drafts. A temperature between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Keep it well watered, but do not overwater.
After the bracts (the red petal parts) fade or fall, the plant can be set outdoors if they will receive indirect light and be in 55 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the plant back to within five inches from the ground and repot in fresh soil. Water sparingly with just enough water to keep the stems from shriveling.
Pinch the new growth back to a get the full-plant look with several stems.
After Labor Day, or when the nights start to cool to about 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit, bring the plant indoors. Continue to let it grow in a sunny room with a night temperature of about 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mums (chrysanthemums)
A potted plant of blooming chrysanthemum flowers can provide a nice color accent. With proper care, the plant should have a life of four to six weeks indoors. Provide the plant with several hours of bright, indirect sunlight near a window every day. This will maintain growth without premature fading blooms. Water when the soil starts to feel dry to the touch (but not completely dry) and when the pot is noticeably lighter in weight. Also, be sure the plant does not sit in water. Fertilizer is not necessary. Remove dead leaves and faded blooms to keep the plant looking its best.
After flowering, the plant can be moved outside (planted in a garden) where they often flower again in the fall, and at times, in the late spring. In the garden, trim the plant once or twice to keep it from getting leggy and re-trim it after each flowering cycle.
Cyclamen
This unique, brightly colored plant needs indirect light and performs well in normal room temperatures. It can last longer when cooler daytime temperatures of 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit prevail. Keep the soil slightly dry (the plant is very sensitive to too much water). The plant will provide repeated blooms over several weeks or months if growing conditions are satisfactory.
For more information, on environmental horticulture and gardening, please visit UC Cooperative Extension.
Happy Holidays!