Christmas plants

[bearfinch]

One thing I like the holidays are the different types of "Christmas Plants" that are availible. In my family we've always bought several pointsettias, a Jerulsalem cherry (which we kept from year to year), and a Christmas cactus for the season

Comments

[vaneramos]

Mom has a Christmas cactus that belonged to her grandmother. It's probably at least 70 years old, and blooms faithfully.

[bearfinch]

My grandma had one that was somewhere around 30 years old and bloomed every christmas (the secret is making sure they only get natural light, so that the shorter days initiate flowering). One year it got overwatered and sucummbed to a mold.

Sadly, her "other christmas cactus" (actually a Euphorbia) died one year when she left it on the porch too late in the year and it got frostbite.

[mrpibearian]

we were never able to get pointsettias at my house. We had too many animals that would eat them unless we stuck them up somewhere where they wouldn't be appreciated anyway.
and apparently they're not very good for dogs or cats.

use caution with mistletoe around pets as well

[champdaddy]

http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/hot05/12-16.html

Re: use caution with mistletoe around pets as well

[bearfinch]

There's conflicting reports about the toxicity of Pointsettias (even on websites about veterinary sciences). The toxicity of mistletoe is well established though, and it's equally toxic to people.

[timcub]

I have to admit that I have no idea what a Jerusalem Cherry is, but I had to vote for it because I love the name.

[bearfinch]

It is a plant with dark green leaves and bright red fruit about the shape of a cherry. Christmas peppers are similar, except the fruit is more pepper shape (like chillies).