Garden.org's Top 10 Blooming Gifts

Garden.org columnist Rebecca Koll recently wrote about her favorite flowering picks to give or receive this holiday season. Picked for their bright colors, sweet fragrance and winter hardiness, these are some cold-weather staples that brighten any indoor environment. Is your store prepared for the holiday gift season? Here are Rebecca’s picks:

1. African violets stay small and don’t mind low-light conditions. Water only when soil feels dry to the touch, never use cold water, and be sure to keep water off foliage. Here’s a tip: Pinch off early blooms for more blooms in the long run.
2. Begonias grow best in bright light. Keep soil evenly moist, watering as soil begins to dry. Never let plant sit in water. Fertilize with a diluted liquid fertilizer every other week. Pinching out the tips of the branches will create a bushier plant.
3. Cyclamens thrive in cool, humid conditions. Water when dry, and avoid getting water on the crown of the plant. Stop watering when blossoms fade. Resume watering when new growth appears — about two to three months. Feed with a low-nitrogen fertilizer every couple of weeks.
4. Jasmine is the sweetest blooming plant; the scent will whisk you away to the Caribbean. Jasmine is a climbing vine covered with dainty, white flowers. It thrives under full sun and appreciates being watered regularly and fed monthly with a low-nitrogen fertilizer. Not all jasmine is fragrant, so remember to sniff before buying.
5. Azaleas prefer cool conditions. Place in the coldest room in the house where daytime temperatures remain around 60-65° F. Avoid full sun while plant is flowering. Keep soil moist but not wet. Water by submerging the pot in a bucket or sink, and wait until air bubbles disappear. Allow excess water to drain completely. Feed with water-soluble fertilizer once every two weeks after flowering is finished.
6. Orchids like bright light and high humidity. They resent wet feet but resent drying out even more. Because they don’t grow in typical potting soil, water once a week or more if needed. Be sure to allow water to drain completely (don’t use softened water). Orchids need to be fed every couple of weeks; follow the usage directions for a fertilizer specific to orchids.
7. Kalanchoe thrives in a sunny, dry location with daytime temperatures in the 70s. Water when soil begins to feel dry. Allow the water to drain completely from the plants — they don’t like soggy soil. Fertilize every two weeks with a water-soluble, phosphorous-rich fertilizer.
8. Christmas cactus is a tropical plant that prefers cooler temperatures and likes moist soil. They will grow in low-light conditions, but the more light they get, the more blooms they’ll produce. Treated well, these plants will give you more than 20 years of enjoyment.
9. Amaryllis should be given at least four hours of indirect light a day, watered once a week, and should be staked. These beauties can become top-heavy in no time as they grow.
10. Poinsettias need bright light and temperatures from 70-72° F. Water when dry and allow the water to drain from pot — poinsettias hate wet feet (if it has a foil cover, remove cover when watering). Poinsettias are NOT poisonous.