Poinsettias

Did you know that the tradition of decorating Christmas displays with Poinsettias started in Mexcio? They have a rich history in their native range, and the story of how they came to represent Christmas in the rest of North America is just as fascinating! Now with hundreds of varieties, they've come a long way in the plant world.

A few care tips for your Poinsettias at home:

• It is extremely important to keep these warm climate plants away from drafts or temperature extremes while in your home.
• Always bag them (preferably in paper) before transporting them to and from your car to help prevent shock!
• Keep them well watered. If you leave them in their decorative foil, either remove it when watering or  put a couple holes in the bottom to allow for drainage. Use a drip tray under them to keep your table or floor dry.

Poinsettias: The Story of a Holiday Treasure

Poinsettias: Care and Reflowering

The Bayberry Candle

Lighting bayberry candles around the holidays has become a cherished tradition.  It’s said that if you burn a bayberry candle on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, it will bring good fortune into the new year.  This tradition can be traced back to colonial America. 

Bayberry candles are made from a waxy residue released from boiled fruit of the bayberry shrub. These were one of the first waxes made from a material other than tallow (animal fat). They were appreciated for their pleasant scent.

For native gardens, the Northern Bayberry, Myrica pensylvanica, makes a great addition to be appreciated by people and wildlife.  

About the Bayberry

The History of the Bayberry Candle

Forcing Bulbs Indoors

Forcing spring bulbs to bloom indoors is a fun way to bring some spring cheer into your home during the dark, cold days of winter.  With a few key steps you can successfully grow spring bulbs in your home.  

Timing and temperature will be the key factors to consider when forcing bulbs in your home. Different types of plants may have different needs, so knowing the species will be key in identifying conditions needed to ensure success!

Coax Bulbs into Bloom for Late Winter Color

Bulbs: Forcing to Flower

Native Plant Highlight: Ilex verticillata

The Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is a native shrub with multi-season interest. It is a deciduous holly, meaning it loses its leaves in the winter, but when it does so the berries hold tight creating a vibrant and colorful display in the dead of winter!

Cultivars can be found with red, orange, and yellow berries to add more variation to the garden. Plus the berries are a great food source for native birds and wildlife.

Word from the WiSE

December 2024 Weather Outlook

A seasoned gardener always keeps their eye to the sky at any time of year! NOAA's National Weather Service released their discussion about how weather patterns in December will bring us into our winter season! (Click image to see larger map.)

   

30 Day Outlook for December 2024

Knowledge to Grow On

Read our Ladybug blogs written weekly:

Plants I am Thankful For

To Lime or Not to Lime?

The Asian lady Beetle, a Common Nuisance in the Fall

Patterns and Designs in Nature

Upcoming Events and Things to Do

• Christmas Bird Count, December 14 & 15, Statewide

• Find holiday gifts at local craft fairs! 

• Glow Hartford opens November 29th this year! Enjoy an indoor light display and vendor fair.

• Steve Cryan's 31st Annual Train Show, November 21-February 16, Essex CT​​​​​​​

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​CT Christmas Movie Trail​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Educational Opportunities & Workshops

• Attend A Local Garden Club meeting, talk, or workshop

•  Eco-Holiday - Nov. 29 - Dec. 22, Derby CT. Decorators transform recyclable and throwaway materials into masterpieces representing eight biomes ranging from rain forest to desert. 

UConn Educational Events

• UConn Extension Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers Conference - January 7, Storrs CT

• Grab your 2025 UConn Master Gardener Calendar! Contact your local Master Gardeners through the UConn County Extension offices for more information! 

December Gardening Tips

• Mark perennials and bulbs before they become covered in snow to help you identify plants in early spring.

• Holiday plants, including amaryllis, mistletoe, and yew are toxic and should be kept away from children and pets. Contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 immediately if you suspect a problem.

• Decorative foil around the roots of holiday plants can hold water and drown them. Either remove it when you water, or poke drainage holes in the foil and use a saucer.

• Finish the cleanup of the vegetable garden or beds, removing all plant debris

• Asian lady beetles and Brown marmorated stink bugs may enter the home to overwinter. Use weather stripping or caulking to keep them out.

• Check vegetables that you have in storage. Sort out any that show signs of disease and dispose of them.

• Turn compost piles one more time before they freeze for the winter.

• Avoid using salt to melt ice on driveways and sidewalks which may end up on the lawn, when possible use sand or kitty litter. This will help prevent salt damage to plant roots.

• If you have a real Christmas tree, recycle it after the holidays are through. Cut off branches and use as insulation over perennials. In spring, chip or shred branches to create mulch or add to the compost pile.

• Replace the plants in hanging baskets, containers, and window boxes with evergreen boughs, berries and pinecones.

• Be sure to keep bird feeders stocked with seed and suet for the winter months.

This Month’s Newsletter Contributors: 
Pamm Cooper, Dr. Nick Goltz, Dawn Pettinelli, Marie Woodward, Heather Zidack