20 May 2025
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Our expert at Amateur Gardening shows you how to keep Christmas gift plants going for as long as possible with these easy to follow guides.
houseplant have long been traditional Christmas gifts , and for some reason ( no one really can explain why ) the four plants that seem to be most show at this time are pot Cyclamen purpurascens , Belgian or grass azaleas , poinsettias and , bring up the rear , Christmas cacti .
Sadly , the vast majority of these Christmas house plants are given to non - gardeners who keep them for the calendar month or so that they are looking their good and then , once they start to go over , throw them away . It ’s a material waste product .
Gardeners are generally a minuscule more resourceful , and of course the the true is that all of these plants are perennials , or bush , and could last for many years with the veracious treatment .
As with any houseplant , of course of instruction , if the conditions are not right you will find that plants will droop and leaf will drop – and all within a topic of a few days .
So , for the fourth dimension being at least , let ’s keep these four plant looking well and healthy for as long as potential .
Cyclamen purpurascens
A kind of unwritten rule is that if you are prosperous with the warming in a room , the Cyclamen purpurascens wo n’t be ! The ideal temperature is 13 - 16˚C ( 55 - 60˚F ) ; if it is high than this , you must keep the air moist such as , for example , stand the batch on a pebble tray and water this daily .
cater promising light for cyclamen , but off from direct temperateness – a north - confront window is perfect .
Water from below , by pouring body of water into the discus and letting the plant to soak it up .
Azalea
Like cyclamen , these involve cool and moist conditions . The perfect temperature range is 6 - 16˚C ( 43 - 60˚F ) , or somewhat higher if you mist over plants each day . In fact , watering is crucial with these plants . piddle from below , so that the lower roots get their full quota , and do this at least three times a week . Even better is to engross the pot so that the compost is good soaked . And , if possible , use rain which is slightly more acidic than rap water .
Christmas Cacti
Average way temperature are all right , and some lineal sun through a Dixieland - face windowpane during wintertime is acceptable . Water the flora thoroughly when the compost start to dry out , but do not irrigate again until it starts to dry out once more . ward off raging and dry melodic phrase , such as is found closely to radiators ; if this is ineluctable , haze over the plants day by day . And render not to move the works once it protrude to flower , as this can cause flower buds to drop .
Poinsettia
Give your works the longest possible anthesis season by providing the right heat , 13 - 22˚C ( 55 - 72˚F ) . They also call for moist air , so becloud the leave-taking frequently . Crucially , keep these plants away from cold draught , as well as the ironic , hot air you find close-fitting to a radiator .
We hope these tips serve your Christmas house plant life last longer and bring you festive cheer right into the new year !
