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Tips For Your Holiday Horticulture

From keeping your poinsettias on point this holiday season to making sure that Christmas tree stays green, Newswatch 16’s Ryan Leckey tackled tips for it ...

From keeping your poinsettias on point this holiday season to making sure that Christmas tree stays green, Newswatch 16's Ryan Leckey tackled tips for it all with some plant pros in Lackawanna County.

The crew at Corky's Garden Path Greenhouse in the Justus area offered the following tips when it comes to caring for your holiday plants.

When it comes to poinsettias: 

  • After buying them, remove plastic sleeve when you get the plant home that's placed on it to protect it from the cold.
  • Place the poinsettia in a room with normal household temperatures, mid-sixties are ideal.
  • Keep the plant away from drafty windows and doors.
  • As for how often to water the plant, touch the soil or lift the plant to see if it feels light. If the soil is dry, remove decorative foil and place in a sink until water runs from the top to the bottom.
  • Although many think poinsettias can kill your pets if they eat them, experts say they're only mildly toxic. Your cat would have to eat almost an entire greenhouse to be considered fatal.
  • After the holidays, if you decide to keep your poinsettias instead of throwing them away, follow these tips. 1.) Once your bracts (the red petals) begin to fall, cut the plant back to four to eight inches.  2.) Then, keep it in a bright full sun area (indoors or outdoors after frost danger).
  • Once October rolls around, bring indoors, and begin your light cycle which includes 12 hours of sun and 12 hours of dark with no artificial light.

To help your live Christmas tree last and stay green this season: 

  • Select a lush green looking tree. Brown needles are an indication that the tree may be less than fresh and possibly drying out.
  • Make sure the tree is using water.
  • The tree should drink several gallons of water in the first few days. If this is not occurring, give the tree a fresh cut on the bottom.
  • Most plant pros recommend keeping your tree stand reservoir filled at all times. Use plain water, no special additives are needed.

Head here for more tips from the crew at Corky's.

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