Beginner Gardening: Christmas Plants, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
There are Rosemary topiaries, Decorative red, mini-hot Peppers. Deco mini Norfolk Island Pines. Paperwhite bulbs sold to force any time you want. They bloom 5-6 weeks from planting--pebbles in water or in soil.
Just go to a "Big Box" store and look around....Many ploants are already there--but AFTER Thanksgiving. You will see plenty!

kwanjin--although we all call the Zygo cactus "Christmas Cactus", it is actually a "Thanksgiving Cactus".
Oh, the Growers can force anything to bloom any time they want, and we DO see these in bloom around the Holidays, but if you have one in the house--it will, naturally, bloom around Thanksgiving. Mine are just getting to a full-bloom stage.

There IS a true "Christmas Cactus". The "leaves" are different--more rounded, without those spikey points. The bloom is also a bit different....At first glance--you would not notice the difference....

My fasvorite to bring in the house for the Holidays are fresh, green trimmings from Christmas trees. The smell so nice! And if you want to REALLY perfume your house, take a small twig, and CAREFULLY, over a plate, hold a candle under it. The needles will first smolder and then start burning. Lots of oils in them.....
When they are all burning--quickly blow out the flames and let the smoke filter into the air.....Heaven!
NOT for kids to do--mind you!!!!

I know at HD the trimmings are free for the taking where they trim the bottoms off of the trees. Just go look!

Gita