Well, there's snow on the ground, 'tis the holiday season! 'Tis also poinsettia season, the most prevalent houseplant of December, but also the most thrown out plant in America.
Little do most people know these plants can stick around for years. If you aren't keen on the color after the holiday season, it's easy to trim off the leaves, and once it's summer you can move them outside.
About ten weeks leading up to the holidays, they need 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness in order to change color. You can do this by putting the plant in a garage or closet at night and then bringing it out in the sunlight during the day.
Another holiday plant gaining popularity is the Amarillo, which will bloom for weeks. These plants are also transportable; you can take out the bulb and store it in a dry dark place, put it back in the pot come fall and it will grow again.
But the most durable holiday plant of all is the Christmas Cactus, and one that you may happen to have in your living room, passed down from a grandparent. These plants fit into any season and are easy to care for.
You can hear Tips for Hardy Gardeners every other Tuesday at 8:20am on Northland Morning.
