Flowering Plants - Sonoma Sun

December may seem a curious time to focus on growing things, but in fact Christmas and other early-winter holidays are closely associated with a number of plants, starting with the frankincense and myrrh in the nativity scene at the heart of Christian tradition. Apart from the religious connotations of the season, the biggest Yuletide symbol in this country is, after all, the Christmas tree.
The winter solstice on Dec. 21 marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. After that, the days start getting longer, representing rebirth and regeneration. Perhaps the popularity of plants like holly and mistletoe can be attributed to our primal urge to connect with the cycle of life.
So it is that we weave pyracantha and ivy into wreaths for our doors and leave our cozy homes in search of trees to bring inside and trim with light and other glittering objects.
Flowering plants have also come to symbolize the holidays and are increasingly appreciated not only as home decorations but also as gifts. Anything in bloom makes a beautiful, instantly satisfying present, including miniature azaleas and roses, but to keep things seasonal, consider poinsettias, cyclamen or Christmas cactus, all of which look great in pots or baskets that can be dressed up with fancy ribbons.
Local nurseries carry a variety of winter-bloomers. Wedekind’s recommends pansies, violas and primroses for cold-weather color to augment the more traditional options.
Jade plants are the surprise hit of the season at Sonoma Mission Gardens, where their intense green color provides a counterpoint to Christmas tree decorations of red and gold. Other offbeat choices include junipers and spruces, sold in one- to two-gallon containers that work indoors or out.
The poinsettia is the best-selling potted plant in America, but the pink and red ones are so ubiquitous that some people consider them trite. However, they also come in burgundy, purple and salmon. This year, Sonoma Mission Gardens also carries yellow poinsettias as well as some featuring mixed colors such as red, yellow and white.
Look for a plant with dark green foliage down to the soil line and bracts (modified leaves) that are completely colored. The poinsettia should look full and balanced. Avoid those that are displayed in paper or plastic sleeves, which can quicken deterioration.
Whether you buy a poinsettia for yourself or as a gift, it needs to be placed in indirect light away from drafts. Ideal temperatures are 60 to 75 degrees in the daytime and about 55 degrees at night. Punch holes in the foil so water can drain from the soil. Do not fertilize a poinsettia until it has stopped blooming.
Cyclamen belong to the primrose family, native to parts of Europe, western Asia and North Africa. They are available in white, red, pink or lavender and bloom from mid-November until mid-February.
These low-growers prefer cool temperatures like those recommended for poinsettias. To maintain proper humidity, set the plant on an inverted dish above a shallow plate of water. Keep the plant moist but not wet, so make sure its pot has drainage holes. Feed twice monthly.
The most familiar Christmas cactus produces impossibly hot pink flowers, but also is available in yellow, salmon, pink, fuschia and white or combinations of those colors.
They are easy to grow but can be reluctant to bloom. For best results, put them in soil with a high percentage of organic matter and water as soon as the soil surface starts to feel dry. (The Christmas cactus is not a true cactus, so it isn’t completely drought-tolerant, even though it is a succulent and can store water in its leaves.)
A sunny location is perfect. The cactus can adapt to lower light, but under those conditions will produce fewer blossoms. The sight of this plant in full bloom is so cheering, though, that it is worth the extra effort to treat it right.