Beautiful blooming plants make holiday gifts that last the whole year
Nothing decorates your home for the holidays like plants. Living plants bring beauty and freshness cannot be matched by imitation plants. Holidays or not, the greenery brightens the winter days when we are not outside as much. There are several holiday plants that do well in Central Texas and can be managed to last for more than one season.
The Norfolk Island pine can be a good substitute for a Christmas tree and can be decorated with small ornaments. It makes a wonderful houseplant after the season is over. This little tree requires porous, slightly acidic soil, so sand and peat moss should be added to the original potting soil. The Norfolk needs a site that provides four to five hours of bright light daily. This plant requires high humidity, so mist it weekly or set the container over a tray filled with pebbles and water. Water thoroughly and then let it dry out before the next watering. Plants should be fertilized in the spring with water-soluble fertilizer.
