December
2004
By
B. Rosie Lerner
Extension Consumer Horticulturist
Purdue University
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Holiday Gifts for the Gardener
'Tis the season for giving, so why not give a gift that lasts all year?
A plant is a special gift that brings beauty to the home and to the heart
as you help a living thing grow.
The poinsettia is undoubtedly the most popular gift plant, but many others
are equally festive for the holiday season. Christmas cactus, begonias,
cyclamen and azaleas offer attractive blossoms on compact plants and can
brighten any room in the house. Jerusalem cherry and ornamental pepper
plants feature festive fruits in celebration of the season.
Try to match the gift to the recipient in terms of the kind of care the
plant needs. Christmas cactus will need bright sunlight to continue blooming
and growing after the holidays, as will Jerusalem cherry and ornamental
pepper plants. Most flowering plants, including azaleas, begonias and
cyclamen, will tolerate indirect bright light but demand cool temperatures,
especially at night. Jerusalem cherries are poisonous, so they are best
suited for families that do not have young children.
Some gift plants will continue to bloom throughout the new year if given
proper care. Others may need a period of rest before they can be brought
back to life. Ask the sales clerk for a plant-care sheet when you make
your purchase. Or, include a book on plant care as part of your present.
For those who don't happen to be endowed with a "green thumb,"
consider a flowering bulb that can be discarded after blooms have finished.
Florists will have a good selection of potted bulbs already in bloom.
Many garden suppliers carry flowering bulb packages for forcing into color
indoors. Amaryllis, tulips, hyacinths and paper-white narcissus are among
the favorites.
A plant makes a great gift, but be sure your gift is delivered with the
same care you took to select it. During cold weather, even the healthiest
plant can be damaged during delivery. Cold and wind exposure for as short
a period as it takes to walk to your car can damage some plants. Be sure
the salesperson wraps your purchase in floral wrapping paper to protect
it from cold temperatures and wind. Get the plant from the store to your
car as quickly as possible. If the temperature is below freezing, preheat
the car beforehand to prevent further chilling injury.
A plant left in an unheated car can be injured or killed quickly, so drop
it off at home before running other errands. If the plant must be in cold
air for any length of time, insulate it by placing it in a box with several
layers of newspaper bundled around the top as well as around the container.
Roots can be injured by chilling too. Packing the plant in a box with
newspaper also will help protect it from tipping over. Besides breaking
stems and leaves, tipping often causes soil to spill from the pot, breaking
roots along the way.
If giving a plant isn't feasible, there are many other ideas for your
gardening friends and family. Good gardening tools often head the gardener's
wish list. A sturdy new rake, hoe or spade can save both time and a tired
back for the busy gardener. Small hand tools, such as pruners, trowels
and cultivators, are handy both inside and out. For bulb gardeners, a
long-handled bulb planter or a bulb drill bit can help make the job easier.
Indoor gardeners would surely appreciate a lighting system to help their
houseplants thrive during dreary winter months. Lighting systems can be
as small as a fluorescent tube or as large as a multiple-shelved unit.
Gardening books are available on a wide variety of subjects and can help
your special gardener improve his or her gardening skills. "Possum
in the Pawpaw Tree; A Seasonal Guide to Midwestern Gardening," published
by the Purdue University Press, is available in local bookstores or directly
from Purdue Press by calling (800) 933-9637.
Purdue Extension has a number of CD-ROMs of interest to gardeners including
titles on Plant Propagation, Vegetable Gardenering, The Master Gardener
Handbook Companion, and Fifty Trees of Indiana, all available through
the Purdue Education Store by calling toll free to (888) EXT-INFO.
If you're still undecided on a gift for your gardener, try a gift certificate
from their favorite seed company or local garden shop. Give a membership
to a nearby botanic garden, conservatory or arboretum. Or, send them a
subscription to a garden magazine.
12-6-04
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