Water levels are looking low this year, give your shrubs and trees an extra boost of moister by shoveling the snow off your driveway and walks onto the ground under your plants instead of into the road. (Make sure the snow doesn’t have any salt or ice melt that is not plant friendly) Your plants will thank you for that extra drink of water! Remember that even though your plants are dormant this time of year, they still need water through the dry spells.
How to extend the life of your Christmas Tree: There are as many ideas out there about what to add to your tree’s water to keep it fresh as there are Christmas traditions. They range from sprite to asprin to fertilizer. Most of these in the right amount won’t hurt your tree, but research has shown that plain old H2O works best. There are, however, a few key things to remember that definitely will effect the life of your tree. Most importantly, is to constantly keep the base of the tree submerged in water. When you first bring the tree home, cut a 2″ section from the base of the trunk and put it immediately in at least a gallon of water. If it will not be put up in your home for a day or two, do the above process but put it in a bucket of water and store outside or in a garage away from sun, wind and below freezing temps. Repeat the process when ready to put it in it’s permanent tree stand, make sure the stand is big enough to hold a gallon of water. Check the water level daily and always keep it well above the bottom of the trunk. Display your tree away from heat sources including heaters, furnace vents and televisions. Using a humidifier to increase the humidity of your home also helps extend the life of a tree in our dry Utah climate.
The length of time your poinsettia will give you pleasure in your home is dependent on (1) the maturity of the plant, (2) when you buy it, and (3) how you treat the plant. With care, poinsettias should retain their beauty for weeks and some varieties will stay attractive for months.•After you have made your poinsettia selection, make sure it is wrapped properly because exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the bracts and leaves.•Unwrap your poinsettia carefully and place in indirect light. Six hours of light daily is ideal. Keep the plant from touching cold windows.•Keep poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts from radiators, air registers or open doors and windows.•Ideally poinsettias require daytime temperatures of 60 to 70°F and night time temperatures around 55°F. High temperatures will shorten the plant’s life. Move the plant to a cooler room at night, if possible.•Check the soil daily. Be sure to punch holes in foil so water can drain into a saucer. Water when soil is dry. Allow water to drain into the saucer and discard excess water. Wilted plants will tend to drop bracts sooner.•Fertilize the poinsettia if you keep it past the holiday season. Apply a houseplant fertilizer once a month. Do not fertilize when it is in bloom.•With good care, a poinsettia will last 6-8 weeks in your home. Source: University of Illinois extention
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