Christmas flowers

Christmas flowers - Holiday flowers like it cool. When it comes to holiday flowers, including poinsettias, paper white narcissus, Christmas cactus, cyclamen and mums, remember to watch the heat. These lovely plants, carefully nurtured in climate-controlled greenhouses, do not demand the same room temperature as do you. You may prefer about 70 for sheer comfort. Flowering plants like it lower. And too-warm temps can shorten their life.

Keeping a flowering plant indoors at 70 degrees may be fine for a couple of weeks, and if that is all you want them for, it is OK.

But such a high temperature will raise the height of leaves and stems of paper white narcissus, which causes them to flop over and look unsightly. Cyclamen and mums, two of the prettiest flowering plants for winter, will see their lifespan shortened significantly at normal room temperature, but extended greatly in a cool space.

Poinsettias will look good indoors for three weeks or so provided they get neither the warm blast from a furnace vent or fireplace nor a cold draft that rushes in when the door opens. Many people are content to enjoy their poinsettias for three weeks or so, then let them go.

An unheated sunroom that does not go below about 55 degrees at night is an excellent place for flowering plants. The sunshine will help them stay healthy, and the cool drop in temperature at night will lengthen their life. It is easy enough to keep them out there and bring them inside for the weekend or when guests are expected.

I have found paper white narcissus grow much better and retain a compact height when left outdoors, provided the night temperature is not expected to drop below freezing. Once they are about to bloom, they can come indoors to a cool spot well away from heat sources.

Lacking a sunroom, look for a cool part of your home. A window sill is usually cool enough. A table set in front of the window will do, as will a low-heated spare room where they can reside temporarily.

And while the house plants may prosper in cool air, they prefer water that is warmish, meaning it feels pleasant when you put your hand in it.

via: charlotteobserver