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Give a plant. Seasonal plants like amaryllis, paperwhites, Christmas cacti and poinsettias are always appropriate, make beautiful living décor, and are easy hostess gifts. House plants are a trendy gift for all ages. Cut flowers are a thoughtful gift that can be enjoyed by those not ready to commit to plant care. Terrariums, orchids, succulent “wall art,” and indoor aquatic gardens make unique plants gifts.

Decorative pots for outdoor or indoor use are a playful and practical gift idea and come in a wide range of styles and price points. A hand-decorated planter makes a fun craft project for kids and a cute gift for grandparents. Pots should be functional as well so check for a drainage hole before purchasing. Don’t forget decorative pot huggers.

Bring the bling to the outdoors with yard ornaments. They can add humor, whimsy, or drama to indoor and outdoor gardens.

Invite nature “home for the holidays.” Bird houses, bee hotels, butterfly homes, bird baths and feeders of all sorts attract wildlife to outdoor spaces and enhance the environment.

Stuff the stockings! Seed packets make great stuffers. Gloves and pruning shears will also fit nicely. Anyone who works with soil will appreciate a stiff soap for cleanup, followed by a soothing salve or hand cream. Gardeners love practical gifts, too, like plant stakes, tags, and ties. And don’t forget about the birdseed and feeders for gardeners who love to watch the birds!

 

In 2023, the poinsettia industry in the U.S. is worth around $170 million. The U.S. has endorsed the poinsettia so much that in 2002 the House of Representatives officially declared Dec. 12 as Poinsettia Day, which in Latin America is also celebrated as a holiday honoring the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Quick facts

Poinsettias bloom when the days get shorter.

The colorful “flowers” of poinsettias are actually modified leaves called “bracts.”

Poinsettias grow well in moist soil and temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F.

They can be grown outdoors during summer.

Poinsettias are not poisonous, but the sap may cause dermatitis.

Bracts are the leaves of poinsettia that change color depending on light exposure.

History:

Native to Mexico, poinsettias are in the Euphorbia family and are a popular holiday plant because of their colorful bracts (leaves). There is also a species that is used as a cut flower.

They are most commonly used for decorating during the winter holidays but are also attractive as green plants throughout the year.

Poinsettias change color in response to shorter winter days. Poinsettia flowers are made up of the bracts, which look like petals, and the tiny yellow flowers in the center.. The colorful bracts attract insects to the flowers and will drop after pollination.

Poinsettias are not harmful to animal or human health. But they should not be eaten. The sticky white sap can cause a skin rash, so gloves are recommended when working with these plants. Avoid contact with eyes and mouth.

Wash tools well after use as the sap can make tools sticky.

Poinsettias come in many colors

You can find poinsettias around the holidays to fit into almost any decorative scheme. They range from creamy white to pink to the traditional bright red. Some varieties have bracts with patterns in red and white, pink and white, or green and white and even bright orange.

Flower forms vary as well with some looking similar to a rose. You will also find unusually colored poinsettias such as blue or purple in garden centers. These are cream-colored varieties that are spray painted. They are sometimes sprinkled with glitter.

Poinsettia Needs

Light and temperature

Indoor light: Put in a south, east or west window where the plant will receive bright daylight.

Indoor temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees F are ideal.

Avoid placing poinsettias where the temperature fluctuates or may be drying, such as near cold drafts, heat ducts, fireplaces, fans, space heaters, etc.

Poinsettias will suffer damage if they are exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees F.

 

Watering

Keep soil moist.

Water plant when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch, or the pot feels lightweight when lifted. Never allow poinsettias to get so dry that they wilt.

Remove from decorative foil or outer pot before watering.

Make sure your plant is in a pot that drains freely.

Set the plant in a sink and water thoroughly, allowing the plant to drain completely.

Never allow poinsettia pots to sit in excess water. Constant wetness will rot plant roots.

Fertilizing

You do not need to fertilize your poinsettia during the holidays.

Start fertilizing your plant when you see new growth (new green leaves, stems, bracts).

Holiday Decorating With Fresh Greenery

One of the oldest winter holiday traditions is decorating the house with fresh greenery. Evergreens are used to represent everlasting life and hope for the return of spring.

Today, decorating for the holidays with fresh greenery is more prevalent than ever. Greenery such as cedar, ivy, pine, and holly add a fresh look and natural scent to homes.

Gathering Greenery

The first and often the best place to look for holiday greenery may be in a personal garden or landscape. Greenery gathered from a garden will be far fresher than any that can be purchased. A wider variety of unusual greenery may be available that would be difficult to find for purchase.

Remember that the plants are being pruned when gathering live greenery from the garden shrubs and trees. Consider carefully which branches to cut and which ones to leave. Distribute the cuts evenly around the plant in order to preserve its natural form.

Many different kinds of greenery can be used for holiday decorations. Pines, firs, and cedars are good to use for indoor decoration since they dry out slowly and hold their needles

best at warm interior temperatures. They may last for several weeks if properly treated and cared for. Hemlock, spruces, and most broadleaf evergreens will last longer if used outdoors.

Below are some suggested varieties to use in holiday decorating.

Boxwood: This small-leafed shrub is a longtime favorite for fine-textured wreaths and garlands. It has an aroma that is either loved or hated. Be sure of the family’s reaction before using it indoors.

Firs: All firs have a wonderful scent and good tolerance of hot, dry indoor conditions. The needles are short and flat; with excellent color and needle retention. Fraser fir wreaths and swags are commonly available from commercial sources.

Holly: This most traditional holiday green comes in several forms, both green and variegated. Female plants display bright red berries. Make sure that holly does not freeze after cutting, or the leaves and berries may blacken.

Junipers: Fragrant, short, green, or silver-blue foliage may be adorned with small blue berries. The needles are often sticky. Eastern red cedar is a native juniper and is readily available.

.Pine: There are many different types of pine to use in garlands and wreaths. Most are long-lasting with excellent needle retention.

Spruce: Wreaths are the main use for spruce greens. The branches are stiff with short, sharp needles. Blue spruce is especially attractive because of its color, and it holds its needles better than other spruce. Needle retention is poorer on spruce than on other conifer greens.

Keeping Greenery Fresh

Use clean, sharp cutters to cut branches and immediately put cut ends into water until ready to use. Crush the ends of woody stems to allow the cutting to take in more water.

Keep greenery out of sunlight.

Immerse greenery in water overnight before arranging, allowing the cuttings to absorb the maximum amount of moisture.  Allow the foliage to dry and spray it with an anti-transpirant, such as Wilt-Pruf, to help seal in moisture.

Decorating Safely

Dried evergreens can become flammable when in close contact with a heat source, such as a candle flame or fireplace. Make sure that any wreaths, roping, and garlands  brought indoors are as fresh as possible. Check needles by bending them. They should be flexible and not break. Avoid using greenery that is shedding needles or that has brown, dry tips.

Never place fresh greenery near heat sources, such as space heaters, heater vents, or sunny windows. Be careful of wreaths used on the front door if a glass outer door receives direct sunlight, as the reflective heat will burn the foliage. If decorative lights are used near green arrangements, make sure that they stay cool. If using holiday lights outside, confirm that they are rated for exterior use.

Check all decorations every couple of days for freshness. If the greenery is becoming dry, either replace or remove the dry portions. Discard dry greenery away from the house or garage to prevent a further fire hazards.

Safety for Children & Pets

Some popular plants used in holiday decorating can present poisoning hazards for small children or pets. Poisonous berries are found on hollies, yews, mistletoe, and Jerusalem cherry. The pearly white berries of mistletoe are particularly toxic. Keep all these plants out of the reach of children and curious pets.

Source:  Barbara H. Smith, Horticulture Senior Associate -Horticulture Crop Science, Clemson University

 

All good things must come to an end, including the holidays. But leftovers from your holiday celebrations can help stretch out your holiday cheer.

When the party is over and you’re cleaning up, it’s important to assess the safety of the foods that are leftover. If perishable foods (meat, poultry, cooked foods, cheese, cut up fruits and vegetables) were out for more than two hours, they should be discarded. If you kept hot foods hot (above 140°F), with chafing dishes, warming trays or slow cookers you will want to refrigerate any leftovers right away. Perishable foods that were not out for more than two hours, or that were kept on ice also can be saved. Prompt storage can prevent pathogenic bacteria that cause foodborne illness from growing in your leftovers. These bacteria have no odor and can’t be tasted or seen.

Leftovers should be stored in shallow pans or containers so that they cool down quickly. The quicker your leftovers cool, the less time they spend in the “Danger Zone” (40–140°F). Most leftovers will keep for about four days in your refrigerator. Use this Cold Storage Chart to keep track of foods in your refrigerator and freezer.

As you are putting food away, ask yourself if you can finish the leftovers in 4 days. If not, go ahead and package them for the freezer. Most cooked foods will keep their best quality for 2-4 months in the freezer. To protect your foods from the drying effects of the freezer, package them in heavy duty plastic containers, freezer bags, aluminum foil or freezer paper.

If you don’t know what to do with your leftovers, visit USDA’s What’s Cooking? USDA Mixing Bowl. You’ll find safe and healthy recipes to use up leftover meat, poultry and other foods.

Source: USDA

Management Strategies in Times of Drought

Some suggest during this year Southeastern Ohio experienced what might be the worst drought in our history. Regardless, where it may rank, few of this generation have the experience of managing through a time when feed resources were in such short supply for a commodity as valuable as beef cattle and other ruminant livestock.

 

That said, please plan to join us in the Fairfield County Ag Center on Monday, December 2 beginning at 7 p.m. when we will explore not only feed management strategies for times such as these, but also the drought disaster relief programs presently available to farmers in much of Ohio. Representatives from Ohio State University Extension, USDA/NRCS and the Farm Service Agency will discuss feed alternatives, feed management strategies, Federal and State drought “disaster” programs and funding opportunities for both feed and water.

Reservations are encouraged but not required by contacting OSU Extension in Fairfield County (740-653-5419) or simply following this link: go.osu.edu/feedmanagement