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KMOO.com News Farm and Ag Ag News Plants and the Christmas season
Plants and the Christmas season PDF  | Print |  E-mail
Written by Rick Hirsch, Henderson County Extension Agent   
Friday, 05 December 2008 16:48
Plants play an important role during the Christmas holiday season. Christmas trees, poinsettias, holly, mistletoe - all have various uses.
Christmas tree selection can be one of the more enjoyable aspects of the holiday season. The acquisition of the Christmas tree has truly turned into a family affair as everyone has their own ideas as to what constitutes the “perfect tree”. Fresh trees need a little help to stay fresh and beautiful through the holidays. When you and your family shop for a “real” tree, there are a few simple guidelines to follow in selecting and maintaining your tree choice.
A tree needs water, just as cut flowers do. Some trees will use as much as two gallons of water overnight when you first cut them. The first step, then, is to put the tree in water as soon as you get home. Trees that have been cut for more than several hours will need a fresh cut of 0.5 to 1 inch off the bottom of the trunk to remove the seal that the tree has made and allow it to absorb water.
Determine where in the home to display the tree. This will help in determining the needed height and whether all four sides must be suitable for display. Freshness is important when selecting the tree. Hold a branch about six inches from the tip between your thumb and forefinger, and pull your hand towards you as the branch slips through your fingers. The needles should adhere to the branch and not fall off in your hand. A fresh tree will have a nice fragrance and a good green color.
One extremely important decision is where to put the tree or rather, where not to put the tree. Place the tree away from the heat sources, such as fireplaces, radiators and TV sets. Be sure to turn off the tree lights when you leave your home and before you retire at night. A fire caused by a burning Christmas tree can have a devastating effect on your holiday season. Do not use combustible decorations, and check all electric lights, cords and connections before you begin decorating. Also, don’t use lighted candles or lights with worn or frayed cords.
The most popular plant for Christmas is the poinsettia. There are some simple guidelines to help you maintain and grow your plant during the holiday season.
The poinsettia thrives on indirect, natural daylight, and exposure to at least six hours daily is recommended. If direct sun cannot be avoided, diffuse with a light shade or sheer curtain. To prolong the bright color of the poinsettia bracts, daytime temperatures should not exceed 70 degrees F°. Avoid placing the plants near drafts, excess heat, or the dry air from appliances, fireplaces or ventilating ducts.
Poinsettias require moderately moist soil. Water the plants thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to the touch. Remove the plant from decorative pots or covers, and water enough to completely saturate the soil. Do not allow the poinsettia to sit in any standing water. It is not necessary to fertilize the poinsettia when it is in bloom.
Since poinsettias are sensitive to cold weather, frost and rain, outside placement during the winter months should be avoided. However, in mild climates, an enclosed patio or entry way may be suitable, provided the night temperatures do not drop below 55 degrees F. Make certain the delicate bracts are well protected from wind and cold rain.
After the holidays keep the plants in indirect sun and water regularly. Place your plants outdoors, where they can grow in the warmth of spring and summer, after outside night temperatures average 55 degrees F or above. When bracts age and lose their aesthetic appeal, usually by late March or early April, cut the poinsettia back to about 8 inches in height. By the end of May you should see vigorous new growth. Continue regular watering during the growth period. Fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the spring, summer and fall months with a well balanced, complete fertilizer. Around June 1st, you may transplant your poinsettias into larger pots. Select pots no more than 4 inches larger than the original pot. A soil mist with a considerable amount of organic matter, such as peat moss or leaf mold, is highly recommended. If you wish, you may transplant the poinsettias into a well prepared garden bed. Be sure the planting bed is rich in organic matter and has good drainage. Pruning may be required during the summer to keep plants bushy and compact. Do not prune after September 1st.
LANDSCAPE LABOR:
Proper pruning enhances the appearance of almost any landscape tree and shrub, while improper pruning can ruin or greatly reduce its landscape potential. Pruning is also an essential task for fruit trees, berries, grapes and muscadines. The key word here is proper, for in most cases, it is better not to prune than to do it incorrectly.
Pruning requires knowing what you are doing to achieve success. The old idea that anyone with a chain saw can be a landscape pruner is far form the truth. More trees are killed or ruined each year from improper pruning than by pests. There are several reasons to prune. Removal of damaged plant parts, reduction of surplus growth, and increasing available energy for the development of flowers, fruits and limbs are three of the most important.
The ideal time to prune most ornamental trees is during the dormant season before new growth begins. As with most rules, there are exceptions. For example, flowering trees that bloom in the spring should be pruned after flowering. When pruning trees, use a thinning method that allows you to maintain the natural appearance of the tree. Avoid “topping” a tree if at all possible. Topping a tree shortens the life of the tree and destroys its natural shape.
The best time to prune fruit trees is in January or February just prior to blooming. Peaches, apricots and nectarines are pruned rather severely each winter to keep the long whips from getting out of hand. Apple and pear trees require only light thinning to remove damaged branches and to open up the tree so that light gets in. Keep in mind that last summers new growth produces this year’s flowers and fruit. When growth is shortened and thinned, always leave some of the previous year’s growth or the tree will not produce fruit this season.
You’ll want to remove as much as 80 to 95% of the previous season’s cane growth on grape vines to keep the vines in bounds and to keep the vines form setting too much fruit. Muscadines should be pruned this month to reduce bleeding, while February is the ideal time to prune grapes.
IMPORTANT DATES:

December 19th - Trinity Valley C.E.U. Program, Mabank Fire Station - 111 E. Mason, Mabank. 5 C.E.U.s will be offered. The program will be from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will cost $20.00 a person. RSVP deadline is December 17th. Please call Texas AgriLife Extension Service at 903-675-6130 to RSVP for this program.