Lexington, KY - By Ann Bowe | landscape columnist
While Dec. 25 won't be here for a while, this month is a good time to think about having blooming plants in your home for the holidays.
The poinsettia is likely the first plant that comes to mind when you think of adding living color at this time of the year. And since they're gorgeous, why not? But perhaps you'd like some other options to consider instead of, or in addition to, the traditional poinsettia.
Paperwhites -- the "just add water" plant -- are easy to force any time of the year. Many bulbs require a chilling period, but not these. Simply place them into some potting soil, covering just the bottom half of the bulbs, and water regularly. Or you can forget the soil entirely. Use a container that is 3 to 4 inches deep, with no drainage holes. Add an inch or so of something like stones or marbles -- anything nonmetal will do. Position your bulbs (need I say pointed end up?) on top. Squeeze as many bulbs in as possible since they'll hold each other up, and the more blooms, the better. Add some more stones or marbles to cover half to three-fourths of the each bulb. Add water so that it reaches just the base of the bulbs.
To start with, these bulbs like to be kept cool, maybe 65 degrees, and don't need light. Once the roots start to develop, move the container to a sunny window. Wait for three to four weeks and, presto, beautiful blooms will be your reward. Once they flower, keeping your paperwhites out of direct sunlight will help the blooms last longer.
A friend gave me a tip to avoid the typical paperwhite problem: they grow tall and then, being top heavy, tend to fall over. When grown in a dilute solution of alcohol, plant growth is stunted. Start the bulbs in plain water. Once the roots are growing and the green shoot on top reaches about 2 inches, pour off the water and replace it with a solution of 5 percent alcohol. You can use any hard liquor, but not beer or wine. You will need to consider the alcohol content in order to reach a 5 percent solution.
Amaryllis, which originated in the tropical regions of South America, is another bulb that is extremely easy to bring to bloom. You will need to plant them right now -- they take about eight weeks to bloom -- to have flowers for the holidays.
Store the bulbs in a cool place. When you're ready to plant, place the base and roots of the bulb in lukewarm water for a few hours to hydrate them. Do not get the rest of the bulb wet.
Amaryllis need well drained soil. You can purchase a special planting medium or you can make your own with one part regular potting mix, one part peat humus and one part perlite or vermiculite. You might also add some slow release 14-14-14 fertilizer.
Choose a pot size that leaves about 2 inches between the bulb and the sides of the pot. Straight sides are best, offering maximum area for root growth. Plant the bulb up to its neck in the potting mixture, being careful not to damage the roots.
Now, place the potted bulb in a warm place with direct light, since heat (ideally about 70 degrees) is necessary for the stems to develop. Water sparingly until the stem appears, then, as the bud and leaves develop, water more often. The stem will now grow rapidly.
After blooming is complete, clean the bulb and place it in a cool (40 -
50 degree) place. The crisper in your refrigerator would work as long as there are no apples in the refrigerator, as these will sterilize the bulbs. Store the bulbs for a minimum of six weeks. You can then replant and they'll bloom again about eight weeks later.
If you're not interested in trying your hand at these beautiful bulbs, you could get yourself a florist azalea, an Asian hybrid that is not winter hardy. This winter- and spring-blooming house plant flowers in amazing abundance, with the blooms at the tips of branches covered in dark green, oval leaves. If you buy one that is already in bloom, place it in bright light with no direct sun. Keep the soil very moist since, if it is allowed to dry out, the foliage shrivels and the flowers wilt. Use rainwater or distilled water for this acid-loving plant, never hard water.
It's a good practice to fertilize azaleas during the growing season to keep them healthy and flowering, using a fertilizer especially for acid-loving plants. Feed every two weeks, noting that yellow leaves with green veins are a sign of a nutrient deficiency caused by too much lime.
Hibiscus blooms are also very showy. These tropical plants prefer moderate heat. They must have a few hours of direct sunlight every day to continue blooming, so place your plant in a bright south- or west-facing window. Water well and, after 30 minutes, remove any excess water from the tray. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Use warm water in the winter months.