Christmas Cactus
This plant needs short days to form flower buds, so when it is dark outside, your plant should be in the dark inside. Don't put it in a dark, cool basement; keep it in a warm, dark place during nighttime. This plant is dormant from late winter to late spring and should start to produce flower buds by sometime in September. Try to keep track of the number of short days it takes to get it flowering, then you can plan to have it flowering for Christmas. During the dormant stage, reduce watering and do not feed. A weekly dilute feed of house plant fertilizer during the growing period will help produce flowers later in the year. Magenta-pink flowers appear between October and January.
Poinsettia
These most Christmassy of Christmas plants' will come from the florist
or garden centre ready to display. The red, pink or white "flowers" are
not really flowers but leaf bracts. The true flowers are the little knobs
surrounded by the colourful bracts. To keep it looking good during the
festive season, this plant should be kept cool (15 degrees Celsius), given
moderate light and kept moist but not wet. If light levels are not adequate,
it will drop its leaves and bracts quickly. If you want to keep this plant
going for another year, here is the deal: after flowering is finished,
cut back on watering, put in a cool dark place for the winter. In early
June cut back stems to about four inches and repot in fresh soil (you can
use these cuttings to start new plants). Water
well and place in moderate light. During the summer, feed with dilute
houseplant fertilizer. By late August there should be lots of new growth;
prune now (cut off 1/3) to encourage flowering later. By mid-September,
give it short days (like the Christmas cactus). Remember, even an outside
light shining into the room can affect poinsettias and prevent them from
flowering.
Gardening Tools
By the time you read this you will have already put your garden to bed for the winter, but you should also put your tools to bed. Clean off any dirt and remove rust with emery cloth and WD-40. Give your digging tools a light coat of oil or WD-40 and hang them up out of the way. Cutting tools (pruning shears, saw, loppers) should be cleaned, oiled and sharpened before being put away. I like to sharpen in the fall (when I have time) and be ready for that first fine Saturday in May when I run around trying to do everything at once. Smaller tools can go in a tool box, which is great for carrying gear around the garden.
On the subject of tools, and seeing how it is so close to Christmas, here is a gardener's wish list. If some of these prices seem high, mull over what the old guy working in the feed store told me: "If you want good oats, then you have to pay a good dollar for them. If you're satisfied with oats that have already been through the horse once, they come a little cheaper". In other words, you get what you pay for.
Hand trowel and fork You will use these a lot, for everything from weeding to planting annuals and bulbs. I prefer one with a longer handle, about 10 inches. A good one will be anywhere from $8-$12. The cheap ones bend where the blade meets the handle.
Hand pruners A good pair (just like pants, one is a pair) will cost about $50. Felco is a good name and I have been using a pair of Felco #8 for five years at the Botanical Garden. Few people will use gardening tools as much in a year as we do. Keep them oiled and sharp, and do not try to cut two-inch limbs with them, and they will last as long as you will.
Holster for pruners Great item for about $10. Wear it on your belt when gardening and you will be surprised how well you can keep up with the pruning when the tool is in your hand in a second, rather than on a shelf in the garage.
Sheep shears A wonderful tool for deadheading, pruning things like spiraea and cutting down and cleaning up perennials. They run about $35-$40 but are worth every cent. Made in England of Sheffield steel, these shears can be sharpened with a file or stone and if looked after (not thrown into the compost with the stuff in your bucket) they will eventually become a family heirloom.
Cultivator Has a long handle and a three- tine head. Good for weeding, loosening soil to improve aeration and removing footprints from flowerbeds. Use it for the intended purposes (not as a pickaxe) and it will last many years. Costs around $15.
Digging fork Yes, you need one. No, a shovel is not just as good. Order a stainless steel beauty from Lee Valley for $40 or spend $20-$30 around town for a perfectly adequate one.
Cutting spade A narrow, flat-bladed, straight top shovel. This could be the most versatile gardening tool of all. Sharpen the straight top like you would an axe and you can use it to transplant shrubs, edge a bed, mix soil and cut through sod and stubborn roots. About $30.
Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year from all the staff at your Botanical Garden!