Turning Plants Into Holiday Decorations
WITH LUCK, I will be walking to the backyard to harvest lettuce, Asian greens, arugula, collards and kale for my holiday lunches and dinners. As wonderful as it is to harvest vegetables in the spring and summer, it is even better in the dead of winter. Even if you don’t have a garden, try a large pot on your porch or patio. If you get it ready now, you will be ready for spring planting at the end of January. Right now, I know you are thinking about the holiday season, so let’s talk about a few things your plants can do to brighten the next month.

Does it hurt my plants to cut branches for holiday decorations?
Hollies, magnolia, aucuba and pyracantha all can be trimmed now to provide material for your holiday decorations. Use this pruning both to supply your decorating needs and to shape and control the plants. Don’t cut too much, and try not to just shear the top layer off the plants. Reach down into the plants to natural branch forks, and think about pruning to let in air and sunlight, while preserving the size and shape you desire. You also may want to cut wild grapevines for wreaths and decorations. Be careful, however, not to accidentally cut poison ivy vines. If you think you may have poison ivy in your yard, spend some time looking at photos of the winter vines and reading about their characteristics before you go out to cut grape vines for your home.

How do I use glycerin to preserve leaves for holiday wreaths?
Mature leaves of magnolia, camellia, eucalyptus, boxwood, and some types of ivy can be preserved with a satin, flexible texture and golden brown color by using a glycerin and water mixture. Glycerin for this project can be obtained from a pharmacist. Cut branches of mature leaves from the tree or shrub that are 18 inches in length or shorter. Mash the stem end with a hammer, and place the stem in a 6-inch deep, warm mixture of one part glycerin to two parts water (by volume). Replace the glycerin mixture as needed to keep this approximate depth. The leaves should turn golden brown as they are preserved. This may take from two to three weeks. Leaves preserved in this manner may be used in wreaths or other arrangements, and should last for years. (This information came from the extension service at Clemson University.)

How do I keep my Christmas cactus flowering?
Reduce water to the plant, and keep it in a location that remains close to 70 degrees, and in the strongest sun you have in your home.

Anne D. Edwards
Extension Agent, Horticulture
NC Cooperative Extension Service, Carteret County Office
http://carteret.ces.ncsu.edu
www.soundharvest.blogspot.com

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