holiday plants

Christmas Cactus Confusion

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Every year about this time, stores of all sorts sell something called “Christmas Cactus,” a showy plant with segmented foliage that arches out over the sides of the pot.  Since most people find the foliage relatively unimpressive, the seasonal specials are always sold in bud or with newly-opened blooms.  The long, tubular flowers, which appear … Read more

Amaryllis Project

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Amaryllis are exploding all over my dining room plant area.  The enormous bulb that I bought back in November now boasts two flower stalks with a total of eight huge white blooms and another four-bloom stalk on the way.  A second pot features a brilliant red-flowered variety, its dramatic coloration enhanced by the giant white … Read more