Rutgers Master Gardeners of Burlington County Blog

By Bonnie McNamee             Traditional red poinsettias are the most popular of all Christmas plants. But did you know that today there are over 100 different varieties of poinsettias available? When purchasing a poinsettia, look for a healthy plant, one that has lots of dark green foliage from top to bottom. Choose a plant that is brightly colored and in good condition. With proper care, a poinsettia can retain its color until March, or even later, if it is not exposed to freezing temperatures. Indoor temperatures should range between 55 and 75 degrees. They dislike the cold and should be kept at temperatures above 50 degrees at all times.        Water your poinsettia whenever the surface of the soil feels dry and the plant feels light when you pick it up. Water thoroughly until the water runs out the bottom of the pot. Allow the plant to sit in the sink and drain completely. Too much water can kill a poinsettia.      If you want to keep your plant going after the holi

Bonnie McNamee            A Christmas cactus is easy to grow and is widely available this time of year. By following a few simple guidelines your cactus will reward you year after year with beautiful blooms. Cacti plants will bloom from Thanksgiving on and sometimes again in the spring. Most of the Christmas cacti sold are timed for the holiday, but they are usually Thanksgiving cacti and will bloom in following years at Thanksgiving time. These cacti are not desert cacti they are, in fact, tropical cacti which means they cannot tolerate very dry soil. If the soil gets too dry, the flower buds will drop, and the plant will wilt. Water your cactus thoroughly, letting it drain well, and then check to see that the top inch of soil has dried completely before watering again.      Place your plant in a north or east facing window away from direct sunlight. If your home is dry provide humidity by placing the container on a tray of moist pebbles. Fertilize your plant monthly between A

By Bonnie McNamee  For most of us the Christmas holidays are a favorite time of the year.   We love to decorate the house inside and out, putting up the tree and trimming it just right.   Instead of buying lots of new items from the big box stores this year, why not try making some natural decorations using materials that won’t have a huge environmental impact caused by the production of some of our favorite holiday items. Instead of buying new garland why not try stringing popcorn and wrapping it around the tree.   It’s light and airy and looks very pretty.   Stringing dried cranberries and/or dried orange slices is another option as well.   Also very pretty are wired heart shaped cranberry wreaths to hang on the tree or in a window. In making pinecone ornaments, you can hot glue greens and add a red ribbon bow or spritz with hairspray and sprinkle with glitter.   Other ways to use pinecones is to make a wreath, fill a wire or wicker basket adding a large red bow, or a