Winter Decorating

When you think about decorating for your winter parties don’t forget to look outside for ideas. Many evergreen plants that we grow in our outdoor landscapes can be used as decorations indoors for winter. Evergreens represent everlasting life and hope for the return of spring. These stems and cuttings are freshest when they come from your own yard and can be included in your winter scheme very easily.

Some of the easiest evergreen specimens for use are fir, pine, cedar and holly. These can be used indoors as they take longer to dry out. If decorating outdoors use hemlock, spruce and broadleaf evergreens as the cooler temperatures will help these last longer. Other plant sources include ivy, lavender and rosemary. These can be dried or put into water adding both color and smell to your indoor décor. Also consider using nuts, berries, dried flowers, seed pods and cones for decorating. Other options include lacebark canes from certain crape myrtles or colored twigs like those from chokecherries and red twig dogwood. These work well in their current state without worry for whether they will keep.

No matter if you are using your cuttings indoors or out, remember to keep your decorations away from any heat sources including fires, candles, sunny windows and heaters. If you want to put lights on your greenery then make sure they stay cool to the touch. Keep your greenery as fresh as possible by checking them every few days, bending the needles to see that they are flexible instead of breaking. Replace cuttings that become to dry and remove the dried material to an outdoor storage area, away from buildings or fires.

Remember that you are actually pruning your plants when you cut off stems for use as decorations. Choose your cuts carefully; remove the tips at equal lengths so the plant will maintain an even shape. Cut back to a bud or back to the next branch. Think about what you will do with the cutting for decoration and cut the size accordingly. You may decide that some branches need to be left alone in order to preserve the look of the plant growing in your outdoor landscape.

You can use the greenery you cut for wreaths, swags, garlands, as accents in bouquets, and as stuffing for Christmas decorations. Pine cones can be hung by ribbons for decorations in windows, as ornaments or around stockings. Berry sprigs and dried rosemary can adorn napkins or surround centerpieces. Be creative and use what you have to create an interesting experience for your guests.

Don’t forget there are also live plants that are used around Christmas. Two of the most popular are Christmas cactus and poinsettia. Both have basic care requirements and can be kept alive for the next season with a little TLC. Always start with healthy plants that are disease and insect free. Do not place either near drafty doors or near dry, heating ducts.

The Christmas cactus is native to the tropics and prefers similar conditions of growth during the spring and summer. In order to induce bloom in winter you will need to limit the amount of daylight it receives and store it in cooler temperatures. The ‘cactus’ needs at least 12 hours of complete darkness each night in order to bloom. Street or car lights will interrupt this photoperiod so the plant should be kept in an area of total darkness at night. In addition, the room temperature should be around 50 degree starting in October. Watering is a key factor to blooming but should be done less frequently in the fall. Placing a tray or glass of water below the plant can help supply proper humidity. Buds can drop suddenly if any of the above conditions are not met. This can be the most frustrating thing about growing Christmas cactus.

The Poinsettia is native to North America and was made popular in winter due to a German import*. This beautiful plant requires many of the same needs as the Christmas cactus except the temperature needs to remain warm instead of cool. Poinsettia needs basic sun for half of the day, avoiding cold drafts and dry air, requiring at least 13 hours of total darkness each night. Make sure to punch holes in the decorative wrap to allow for drainage and let the soil dry slightly between watering. Temperatures should remain around 60 degree Fahrenheit at night and no hotter than 70 degree Fahrenheit during the day in order to promote long bract color. To promote re-bloom of a poinsettia kept from the previous year, put in a dark, unused closet around early October. Contrary to many who believe it, poinsettias are not poisonous as proven by extensive testing conducted by Ohio State University.

*Point of interest: Poinsettias were first important in fresh cut flowers as a specialty of Albert Ecke, a German emigrant, who grew cut flowers in southern California around the turn of this century.

Helpful Publication: Barnes, Jennifer. Garden Talk for the Heartland Garden Enthusiast. University of Missouri Extension. December 2004.; Doubrava, Nancy. “Christmas Cactus”. HGIC 1554. Home and Garden Information Center. Clemson Extension. Clemson University. May 1999.; Trinklein, David H. “’Tis the Season”. Missouri Environment and Garden. Volume 9, No. 11. News for Missouri’s Gardens, Yards and Resources. November 2003

Helpful Sources: APSnet. http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/xmasflower/

The Extension office is located in Kennett, Missouri at 101 South Main Street (the old bank) on the 2^nd floor. Open Monday – Friday or you can call 573-888-4722 if you have a question. University of Missouri Extension programs are open to all.

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Sarah Denkler, Horticulture Educator
University of Missouri Extension
P.O. Box 160, Kennett, MO 63857
573-888-4722 Denklers@missouri.edu