Year-Round Greenery

Extend your holiday greenery into the new year and beyond with these timely tips from green-thumbed gardeners at the top of their game

By Jeff Schnaufer
CTW Features

Liven up winter with unexpected greenery – a cactus brings some sun to your décor. Image courtesy stock.xchng

As Jack Frost lowers temperatures and blankets our plants with snow, the end of the year often means an end to gardening.

Unless you're Woody Brundage of the Bronx.

"I have about 600 plants in a six room house," says Brundage, a member of the Indoor Gardening Society of America Metropolitan Chapter.

Like many members of his New York City club, Brundage has learned how to make the most of his indoor space. And for those who want to get started on indoor gardening, the holidays offer a variety of festive options.

Paperwhite narcissus, Christmas cactus and Poinsettia are among the most popular holiday plants, experts say, partly because they are forced into bloom. Keeping that plant healthy through the holidays and perhaps beyond, however, takes a little effort.

"Say you purchase a new plant and bring it home," Brundage says. "It may have a few insects on it and if you put it with other plants they can all get insects. Generally, when I buy a plant, I put it in isolation for a couple of weeks until [I] bring it out with the others."

Brundage also suggests feeding plants less than is recommended on the plant food label. Instead of a recommended teaspoon of monthly plant food per gallon of water, he puts in a pinch of plant food.

"Basically, plant growth in the winter is much less," he says. "Too much food and you can burn the roots out."

Where you place your plants can also make a difference, says Bob Matthews, originator of the Gardeners Network, an online gardening community. “If you put a plant within inches of a window with temperatures that reach below zero, a sensitive plant might be damaged," Matthews says.

By contrast, cactus - with their delicate white, violet and red flowers - need very little attention. Matthews suggests putting it on display in a windowsill in partial shade. With proper care, they can be around – and blooming – next Christmas.

Poinsettias should be kept in a cool environment, out of direct sunlight in order to extend the bloom for several weeks after Christmas.

Nancy Cooper, past president of the Indoor Gardening Society Metropolitan chapter, also suggests trying ivy, holly or green and red ornamental peppers for that holiday feel. And you don't need to blow your holiday shopping budget, either. Cooper, who has more than 200 plants in her NYC apartment, points out that the cheaper a plant is, the less horrible you feel “if they drop dead on you."

Amaryllis is another holiday offering, as well as geraniums, African Violets and Abutilon.

"If you have strong sunlight, geraniums are great," says Brundage. "They need very little care. They grow winter and summer and bloom all year long. African violet. needs morning sun, one or two hours of it in the morning. They'll bloom constantly all year round. Abutilon, or flowering maple, grows great in Winter. The flowers come in cherry and peach."

As the holidays draw to a close, consider expanding your repertoire of indoor plants. But do your research.

"If someone is just starting out, the plants they get should get be the ones that accommodate their lighting system," says Brundage. "Go to the plant store, find the plant they like and talk to the experts in the store or go to library and do research."

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