This week, sharing some information on Christmas plants from my Extension horticultural colleague, Kelly Feehan. Before I do that though, I’ve been asked by a couple of Extension specialists to consider a soybean project that has different experimental treatments for soybean gall midge, stem borer, frogeye leaf spot, and white mold. The project would be conducted in small plots on the edge of an interested farmer’s field taking no more than 1-2 acres total. Can be irrigated or non-irrigated and can have history of one or more of the above-mentioned pests in the field. I’m on the fence regarding participating and want to gauge farmer interest. So, if this is something you’re interested in learning more about, please contact me this week and I’ll provide details for consideration.

Live Christmas Trees: Kelly shares, “Just a reminder to daily check live Christmas trees for their watering needs to avoid a fire hazard. For safety, start with a fresh Christmas tree and don’t let the basin run out of water. Use at least a one-gallon capacity tree stand and check the stand daily for adding water. A fresh tree whose trunk has not sealed will take up water quickly. The rule-of-thumb is a tree will use one quart of water per day for every inch of trunk diameter near the base. If you have a tree with a 3-inch base, it can use 3 quarts of water per day. The trunk should have been freshly cut at a slant just prior to putting it in the stand.

Once a Christmas tree stand runs out of water, how long does it take for the trunk to seal so it will no longer take up water? If the water drops below the base of the cut trunk, a seal of dried sap can form over the stump in four to six hours. This seal will prevent the tree from absorbing water, even if the tree stand is refilled; leading to tree drying and increased fire risk.

If a tree stand dries out and a seal forms on the tree base, the tree can be taken out of the stand and a fresh cut made; or one-half inch deep holes drilled into the trunk one-half inch apart; which might allow the tree to begin absorbing water again. This is not very feasible; so be diligent and don’t let Christmas tree stands dry out for a safe holiday season. Also, when watering, nothing needs to be added to water in the tree stand to promote freshness.”

Christmas Cactus: Kelly shares, “To keep Christmas cactus blooming as long as possible, place it in bright but indirect light. Too much sun can cause leaves to turn yellow. Keep soil or potting mix constantly moist but not waterlogged. Even though they are cactus, they are jungle natives and prefer just moist conditions with indirect light. Avoid fertilizing Christmas cactus during the winter; but do fertilize every other week from spring through fall. Plants seem to flower best if they are a little pot bound; but if roots become over-crowded in the container, blooming will decrease. If you haven’t repotted in several years, or you notice a decrease in flowering from the previous year, repot the plant into a slightly larger pot, but wait until spring. If possible, move the plants outside for summer. Keep in a shady area as Christmas cactus will not tolerate full sun.”

Poinsettias: Kelly also shares, “It’s Poinsettia time. Hard to believe these bright, colorful plants originated from a weed. And amazing what plant breeding and good marketing can do. To enjoy your Poinsettia as long as possible, place them in an area with bright sun for at least half the day. If possible, provide a night temperatures in the 50’s or 60’s. This is often the most challenging condition to meet in the home, but keep plants as cool as possible at night. If plants are near a window, don’t let the leaves touch cold window panes; and keep Poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts.  Poinsettias need to be well-watered. Because they are in a light weight soil-less mix, they will dry out quickly. Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering; then water thoroughly until water runs out of drainage holes. Be sure to punch holes in decorative foil wraps to prevent soggy soil conditions or at least pour excess water out of the foil after each watering.”