Holiday Plants: Plants and Flowers for the Winter Months
by News Canada

Description: Flowers and plants you can enjoy indoors during winter months.

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(NC)-Winter isn't as barren as one would think. Holiday plants can spruce up the interior of any home and make for wonderful gifts. "Poinsettias and pines are always popular, but there are many other less traditional blooms to choose from that are both seasonal and easy to take care of," says John Mansz, The Home Depot Canada's gardening expert. Consider the following plant suggestions to decorate your home or give as a gift:

Poinsettia Alternative - Most people think of poinsettia when easy gift-giving and holiday decoration comes to mind, but the White Freesia is also inexpensive and seasonal and can grow inside or out, except in temperatures below -6°C.

Oh Cactus Tree, Oh Cactus Tree - The Christmas cactus, known for its familiar Yuletide blooms, works well in a windowsill with bright, but indirect light. "Colours range from corals, pinks, yellows and magentas, and the plant requires very little care," says Mansz. "Keep it indoors in the winter and leave it outside in a shady area in the summer and it should do just fine."

Edible Décor - The fragrant herb rosemary in a festive pot can instantly freshen up a room. Keep it on a kitchen windowsill full of sun, and it's there to season your holiday meal. When winter has finally passed, blue flowers bloom to signal the arrival of spring.

Tried and True - If selecting the poinsettia, look for a plant that is attractive from all sides. "The leaves should be dark green and full at the bottom of the stem, which should be strong," says Mansz. The coloured leaves, or bracts, should be firm, open and well coloured all the way to the edges, and small bracts that surround the flowers should also be fully coloured.

Once you get it home, unwrap it and place it in a sunny window and away from warm or cold drafts. Your poinsettia will require daytime temperatures of 15°C - 21°C. If possible, move it to a cool room at night, around 13°C.

Check the soil each day, water it when the soil is dry and allow the water to drain into a saucer.

For more do-it-yourself and gardening tips, visit http://www.homedepot.ca or The Home Depot store in your community.

- News Canada

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