Poinsettia Care After Flowers Fade

A cluster of pink Poinsettia flowers, their star-shaped petals gathered in vibrant blooms, stand out against a dark background.

Here are some steps to follow that will help your poinsettia plant become colorful year after year. Late Winter/ Early Spring Poinsettias have long-lasting blooms so their colorful bracts (flowers) remain showy for several months. During this time, side shoots develop below the bracts. To have a well-shaped plant the following year, cut off any … Read more

Are Christmas Trees Poisonous?

A close-up photo of a pine tree branch adorned with Christmas ornaments and lights.

Christmas trees such as firs, pines, and cedar are mildly poisonous, sometimes causing drooling in pets and vomiting in children. The good news is that a child or pet would have to eat quite a bit to become sick and people and pets usually don’t like to eat Christmas trees.  The toxicity of the tree … Read more

Is Mistletoe Poisonous?

A close-up photo of a mistletoe sprig with lush green leaves and pearly white berries, suspended from a tree branch.

The old tradition of kissing under the mistletoe has been around for a very long time, and the temptation for a small child or pet to munch one of the pretty red berries is always there. So is mistletoe really poisonous or is it just an old wives tale? The truth is that it really … Read more

How to Use Poinsettias as Cut Flowers

Vibrant red poinsettia blooms burst forth from a cluster of emerald leaves.

Poinsettias, with all their new colors and shapes make wonderful cut flowers if you just follow a few simple rules. 1. Cut some poinsettia stems with colorful bracts. The bracts are what most people refer to as the flowers of the plant. Think before you cut, so you won’t have to cut the stems a … Read more

Winter Houseplant Care Advice

A cluster of deep red poinsettia blooms against a backdrop of dark green foliage.

Most plants grow very slowly during the winter months some even become dormant. They have very different care requirements when days are short and the weather is cold LESS is the word to remember. Since there is less growth, less light, and less humidity, plants need less water and less plant food. Light: During the … Read more

How to Store Plant Bulbs for the Winter

Many of the bulbs we plant, such as Grape Hyacinth, Daffodil/Narcissus, Fall Crocus, Lily, Tulip, SnowDrop, Bearded Iris, are hardy and can survive cold winter temperatures. These don’t need to be removed from the garden unless you want to move them to a new location or they’ve become too crowded. When bulbs are too crowded, … Read more

How to keep Your Nails Clean When Gardening

I love to garden both outside and indoors. I don’t like to wear gardening gloves. I always want my nails to look pretty. There is a way to make this work that is both simple and inexpensive. The only thing you need is a bar of soap. I use Ivory or Dove Soap since both … Read more

Poisonous Flowering HousePlants

The holiday season is approaching and we all want our homes and offices to look festive. Flowering plants are a great addition to your holiday decor, but be careful, many are poisonous and should be kept away from small children and pets. Here are are just a few to be careful with: azaleas, anthuriums, amaryllis, … Read more

How to Get Poinsettias & Christmas Cactus to Bloom

A close-up of a vibrant red poinsettia, its star-shaped bracts bursting forth from a cluster of emerald leaves

Two of everyone’s favorite plants for the Holiday Season are the Poinsettia (Euphorbiaceae pulcherrima) and the Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera briggesii or Zygo Cactus)). However, these plants don’t necessarily bloom naturally during the month of December. They are both photoperiodic plants and have to be tricked into flowering at the right time. Poinsettias and Christmas Cactus, … Read more