By Dennis Patton

Another holiday season has come and gone.

Numerous families spent time together, making lasting new memories. For many of us, special memories were recalled and probably provided a laugh or two. Now that the decorations are taken down and tucked away, waiting to be brought out of storage for another year. Many people receive traditional holiday plants like poinsettia, amaryllis and Christmas cactus as gifts, and might wonder what to do to the preserve the holiday gift plants they received.

The question is what you do with these gifts. It boils down to two options. One is to pitch them into the trash once they are past peak bloom. The second option is to attempt to save the holiday treasure, adding to your houseplant collections. Neither choice is wrong; it boils down to what fits your lifestyle.

As a gardener, it is hard for me to throw any living plant away. But, like you, I must make choices. At the Patton house, the poinsettia is the most difficult choice. I used to save them and treat them like a houseplant. I gave them bright sun, even moisture, and regular fertilization. I trimmed the old blooms off to produce new shoots and booted the plant outdoors in mid-May.

With proper care, even a small 6-inch pot poinsettia can reach the size of a basketball. The problematic part about poinsettia care is reblooming. Starting in early September, they must be kept in a place that receives more time in darkness than light each day. For most, that means putting them under a box or in a dark closet for at least 12 to 14 hours daily. The color should start to appear in mid-November through early December. Once you see the flower color, the dark treatment can stop. During the light period, they need bright, sunny light.

I tried this a couple of times with mixed success. As they say, been there, done that. I now discard the poinsettia.

Christmas cacti are easy to grow. Treat it like any houseplant, offer bright light, water regularly and fertilize occasionally, and the plant will thrive. Similar to poinsettias, they need to be babied to initiate flowers. Like the poinsettia, they need shortened days, at least 13 hours of darkness, and a cool location. I am fortunate many of my houseplants are in a south-facing bedroom that is closed off and does not receive heat. Like clockwork, tiny buds start forming in mid-November, and the plant is in full bloom right before the holidays. When given a Christmas cactus, I always keep it to add to my collection of plants.

Amaryllis is probably my favorite holiday gift plant. Usually, it arrives as a dormant bulb that will require potting. Once potted, place it in bright light, and like magic, the flower bud stalk grows up tall, out of the center of the bulb, to bloom and brighten those dreary winter days. Remember to water as needed.

Once it is done flowering, you can pitch the bulb or save it for reblooming. Reblooming is easy if you follow a few easy steps. Once flowering finishes cut away the flower stalks. Leave the long, strapping green leaves that appear. These leaves are required to rebuild the energy needed to power next year’s bloom.

In mid-May, I place my pots on the patio in good sunlight for the summer and bring them back into the home in September. Place them in a dark location and withhold watering. You want the bulbs to go dormant for eight to 12 weeks. After the rest period, put them back into the bright light and start the process over.

What you do with holiday plants is your choice. The most important thing to remember is that someone thought of you, valued you in their life and shared a plant to spread holiday cheer.

Dennis Patton is horticulture agent at the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Office.