"Christmas Cactus" by anna.baba

If your Christmas Cactus is blooming just in time for Christmas, you are either very experienced or very lucky. It is rare that the Christmas Cactus puts on its show at just the right time, often it will bloom early or late.  With the right care and some practiced timing, the Christmas Cactus can bloom beautifully for the holidays.

Origins

The Christmas Cactus is a succulent that originates from Brazil. In its natural habitat, it grows in the forks of trees and rock outcroppings in Southern Coastal Forests. In the Southern Hemisphere, the conditions are right for the Christmas Cactus to bloom in May. That’s why Brazilians refer to it as Flor-de-Maio, Flower of May. It’s flowers come in a variety of colors including pink, purple, peach and cream.

Blooming

The budding and blooming of the Christmas Cactus are determined by light and temperature. Continuous nights of darkness for at least 12 hours are needed for the cactus to bud. According to Purdue Extension, if you start moving your plant somewhere dark (a closet for example) for twelve hours during the night around mid-October, it will put on buds in time for the holidays. Alternatively, lower temperatures will induce buds. If you expose your plants to 50-55 degree temperatures starting in November it should be ready to bloom by Christmas.

While Christmas Cacti like dark nights to bud, they also like bright light during the day. A sunny location in the house will encourage more blooms. However, do not let the name cactus fool you, they do not endure high temperatures. They can be brought outdoors for the summer, but take care to leave them in a shaded or partially shaded area. If the leaves, which are truly modified stems, begin to turn red you know your plant has been exposed to too much light.

Water

Watering your Christmas Cactus is also vital to its health. Like other cacti, it can tolerate drought, but unlike other cacti it doesn’t thrive on it. The Christmas Cactus must be watered regularly, but not over watered. It does not like to be soggy. Check the soil to make sure the top two inches are dry before your add more water.  According to “The Complete Christmas Cactus Guide,”  the plant needs less water in the fall and winter and more in the spring and summer. In order to keep water moving through the potting soil, use a mix that provides plenty of aeration. Clemson Extension suggests using 60-80% potting soil and 20-40% perlite.

Propagation

The Christmas Cactus doesn’t mind being pot bound and can live in a relatively small container.  It is also easily propagated.  Simply, pinch off portions of the stem containing three to five segments in May or June. Allow the cut end to form a callous for two days in the open air. Then plant  up to three cuttings, one inch deep, in a four inch container. Clemson Extension then recommends thoroughly watering the pot, and placing a plastic bag over the top of the plantings. This will create high humidity that will encourage root growth. The bag can be removed after roots are established in three to eight weeks.

A Christmas Cactus can be a beautiful decoration just for the season, or an interesting long-term addition to your collection.As you help your new Christmas Cactus grow and blossom on time, you can find the perfect container for it at NewPro Containers.

Have you grown a Christmas Cactus? Do you have any tips for helping it bloom during the holidays?

Photo “Christmas Cactus” courtesy of anna.baba 

"poinsettias in the backyard" by Jan Smith

With Christmas time just around the corner, and all of your plans made and holiday plantscapes carefully crafted  it is time to relax and enjoy the holiday. Grab a cup of eggnog, relax and enjoy as we celebrate the season’s most popular plant with some fun facts, in honor of National Poinsettia Day which happened this week on December 12^th.

 History

The poinsettia was first introduced to the United States by Joel Poinsett. Poinsett was a United States ambassador to Mexico in the 1820s. Botany was also one of his favorite hobbies. He found the plant and brought it home to a greenhouse in South Carolina(University of Illinois Extension.)

 Long before being brought to the United States, the Aztecs prized the poinsettia, calling it Cuetlaxochitl which means flower with leather petals (gomexico.about.com.). They used the red bracts to make dye and to reduce fevers.   In it’s natural habitat, where temperatures remain between 50 and 70 degrees the poinsettia can grow to be a large bush over 10 feet tall.

"Poinsettia" by Robert Nunnally

Sales

According to Living Arts Originals, it was Albert Ecke that first sold the poinsettia on street corners. His son improved the plant through grafting, so that it was fuller and more beautiful as a potted plant. His grandson marketed the plant, sending it to television stations so that it would appear on air during Christmas time.   All of their efforts have paid off and the Ecke family still grows 70% of poinsettias purchased in the United States. 

 With its innovative marketers and natural Christmas red and greens, the poinsettia remains the most popular potted Christmas decoration.  According to University of Illinois Extension$220 million dollars worth of poinsettias are sold during the holiday season. Of that $220 million, 80% are purchased by women.  Also, you don’t have to stick to just red and green anymore. There are over a hundred different varieties of poinsettias with colors including pink, and white. However, keep in mind as you plan your plantscapes, 74% of Americans still prefer red poinsettias. 8% prefer white poinsettias and 6% prefer pink. 

"White Poinsettia" by Liz West

 Long Term Care

Poinsettias are difficult to keep and encourage to bloom again, but if you have the right conditions it is possible. These suggestions come from University of Illinois Extension. Store the plant in a space that stays between 50 and 60 degrees until spring, water just enough to keep the roots from drying. Then in the spring move the plant to a warm room and water regularly. Cut the stems back to about six inches. Provide plenty of sunlight. In the fall the plant should be kept in a space between 60 and 65 degrees. The plant must have 6-8 weeks of long nights in order to flower again.

Planning for Next Year

When you are ready to plan for next year’s poinsettias, be sure to browse the holiday selection at NewPro Containers. They have a variety of containers, including hanging, floor and table top containers that accent the festive beauty of the poinsettia.

 Your Turn to Share

What is your favorite holiday plant? Have you ever cared for a poinsettia year round? What difficulties did you encounter?

You may also be interested in these older posts about poinsettias:  Are Poinsettia Poisonous? Sell a Pot with a Poinsettia

Poinsettias by Phil Whitehouse

The holidays are upon us. This may be your busiest time of year as an interior landscape designer. But, perhaps things are a little slower this year than last year, or maybe you ordered too much holiday supplies and not enough clients came through. If you are feeling a little lag in business this year, right now may be the perfect time to win new clients.

A great way to win lifelong clients is through holiday sales. Many business that may be reluctant to pay for a plantscaping service during the rest of the year, will justify paying for a holiday display. With your services on sale there is even more incentive to try interior landscaping. If they are pleased with what you provide they may continue using your interior landscaping services throughout the year. 

Structuring your sale 

Evaluate what you have first. Do you have extras of anything, or extra time? Be sure to base your sales on what you can handle.  If you have extra poinsettias offer a discount on a poinsettia arrangement. Make sure you can deliver on your promise and if you have to order anything extra, be sure you can have it in time. This may mean putting a limit on the sale, for example, the first five costumers to call, or stating clearly “until supplies last.” Consider if you need a time limit or expiration date on your sale.

Advertising

To take advantage of sales, people need to be aware of your them. Find out where people look to get information. Think about the prospective clients you would like to gain. Where do they go for information? The Internet? The phone book? The newspaper? 

All of your web presence should be updated with the details, your website, facebook page, tweets, etc. Don’t forget the other advertising outlets, fliers, radio ads, and local newspapers. It may also be a good time to personally pursue a new client. As mentioned above, be sure the details of your sale are clear. Is it for first time customers only? Is there a limited amount available? Your contact information should also be easy to find, a phone number and address are essential and many people will want an e-mail or web address.  

Follow Up

After you have completed the project, follow up with the client. Send a thank you note for trying your services. Call to see if they were pleased with the plantscape. Give them a brochure or something tangible with other services you offer throughout the year.

Offer Your Best

Just because a client is receiving a discounted rate for a service doesn’t mean they should receive any inferior treatment. The goal of a holiday sale is not a few extra dollars, but a long term client. A client can be lost through a poorly managed sale  as easily as they can be won through excellent service.

Don’t Forget Your Regulars

In the effort to gain new customers, don’t forget your faithful clients. This is a great time of year to thank them for their business. Send a card, gift or even extend a special offer or sale to them. Don’t let them feel like you do not appreciate their business.

Your Turn to Share

Have you ever gained a new client through a holiday sale? What have you tried? What worked? What would you have changed?

As you plan out your holiday strategy be sure to browse NewPro’s selection of containers and supplies.

Photo Poinsettias courtesy of Phil Whitehouse

Interiorscapers who will be knee-deep in garland and Christmas trees late in November and December sometimes earn a chunk of their annual income during the week or two of holiday installations.

Veterans who profit from “Holidayscaping” know pulling off a successful installation means planning for it months in advance. After all, the 200 poinsettias you will be placing in your clients’ lobbies are taking root at the growers right now.

Fred Scott, Vice President of NewPro Corp., is a former purchaser and manager of installations at one of the largest exterior and interior landscape supply companies in the US. He’s seen the good, the bad and the ugly the holidays can bring to Interiorscapers.

“People who install artificial Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands and poinsettias are beginning now to plan for Christmas” Fred said. “The first step is just diagraming what each client needs and then taking a simple inventory of what you have on hand and what you will need to match or expand your service for what client.”

That service includes the non-living – lights. It is safe to assume not every bulb survived the off-season or will survive this year’s installation rush. Many interiorscapers just purchase a set percentage – say 20, 30 or even 40 percent of their light inventory lighting so they don’t have to count every bulb or go shopping for them at the last minute.

While there are many ways to store and transport artificial Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands, one method is preparing the display in advance at your location. This is accomplished by decorating and then shrink-wrapping the pieces at your location before transport and installation at the client site.

“That way, once the tree is placed in the location, all the (Interiorscaper) needs to do is unfurl the shrink-wrap and fluff the tree,” Fred said. (more…)