Plant care for the holidays

Dress up a potted dwarf spruce, Norfolk Island pine, lemon cypress or topiary Rose­mary or lavender plant for the holidays and enjoy its beauty all year. Add a bit of garland and a few small ornaments for a fes­tive effect.

Norfolk Island pines have long been decked out and dis­played for the holidays. Smaller specimens can be placed on a tabletop, and larger ones can be used as indoor floor plants when space allows. Grow Norfolk Is­land pines in a cool well-lit loca­tion free of hot and cold drafts. Occasionally, turn plants grow­ing in front of windows to en­sure even growth.

Avoid low humidity and dry soil, often resulting in dry brown needles and branches. Use a gravel tray to reduce your workload and increase your growing success. Place pebbles in the plant saucer and set the container on the pebbles so it rests above any excess water that collects in the saucer. Wa­ter thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil slightly moist. The excess water that collects in the saucer increases humidity around the plant.

Tabletop lemon cypress (Cu­pressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest Wilma’) trees have filled the benches at garden centers and florists for the past few holiday seasons. Their fragrant char­treuse needles and upright coni­cal shape make them a cheery addition to your winter décor. Grow them in a brightly lit lo­cation near a draft-free window and water thoroughly when the top few inches are dry to the touch. Those who garden in zones seven to ten can move them into their landscape or add them to their outdoor con­tainers after the danger of frost has passed. This dwarf variety can eventually reach six feet tall and three to four feet wide.

Enjoy the beauty, fragrance, and flavor of a topiary Rose­mary tree. Grow it in a brightly lit location and water thorough­ly when the top few inches of soil begin to dry. Regularly trim the branches to maintain the upright tree shape. Use clip­pings to season your favorite holiday dishes.

Consider growing a tree-shaped lavender plant this holiday season for its attractive foliage and calming fragrance. Grow your lavender in a south-facing or other sunny window. Find a cool spot in your home away from hot and cold air drafts. The cooler air helps in­crease your indoor growing suc­cess. Water it thoroughly when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Pour off any excess water that collects in the saucer.

If you want a tree that can be moved outdoors into the land­scape or a container in hardi­ness zones two to six, consider growing a tabletop dwarf Al­berta spruce tree (Picea glauca ‘Conica’). Grow it in a very cool bright location indoors. Water thoroughly as needed pouring off any excess water that col­lects in the saucer.

If the buds break and new growth appears, wait until the danger of frost has passed to move it outdoors. Just change out the seasonal decorations and enjoy it on Valentine’s Day, Easter, and any spring holiday celebrations. Grow it outside in a sunny location protected from winter wind and sun to prevent the needles from drying. Watch for spider mites which are a common pest on this landscape plant.

These plants also make great gifts for the holidays and for the host or hostess. You and your gift recipients will enjoy the beauty of these plants through­out the holidays and beyond.