How To Keep Your Poinsettia Blooming Past Christmas

Millions of Poinsettias join families everywhere for Christmas. Although, Poinsettias come in several color varieties, their festive red color just adds so much to holiday decorations. But, once Christmas is over, Poinsettia’s seem to lose their color and beauty and often just die.

Poinsettias are tropical plants and though they are very beautiful, in their natural habitat they’re often thought of as weeds! But, especially in America, they’ve became a much loved part of the Christmas tradition for many families.

Contrary to what most people think, the brightly colored petals aren’t actual flowers, they’re bracts. The real flower is in the center of the leaf bracts. With the proper care, you can keep your Poinsettia blooming through Christmas and even keep it alive for years to come!

Simple Tips To Reduce Plant Infestations

Many types of insects just love plants, in fact as we all know, plants are a source of food for many insects. So, it’s inevitable that sooner or later if you have plants you’re going to get infestations of some type of plant pest.

There are some simple steps that you can take to greatly decrease the chances of your plants becoming infested.

When re-using pots always be sure to clean them thoroughly with hot water and soap. And, always keep you planting tools clean as well.

Some Houseplants Are Poisonous To Your Pet

Houseplants aren’t only beautiful, they’re very beneficial. They adorn and decorate our homes with nature and greenery and they help clean the air we breathe. But, plants can sometimes be very poisonous and toxic. They not only pose a threat to us, some can be very dangerous to our pets.

There are countless numbers of plants both indoors and out that are poisonous. But, the majority of houseplants come from areas that have a tropical climate. And, the most of the houseplants that are toxic come from tropical areas!

We try to protect our pets from poisons like pesticides, cleaning solutions and automotive products. We keep them healthy by keeping their shots up to date and taking them for regular checkups. But, often we don’t even think about the plants in our home being poisonous.

Using Houseplants As Part Of Your Interior Design

We all want to spruce up our home and make it look good. We add all sorts of imported furniture like coffee tables, dining tables, sofas etc. But the best that you can do to bring the zing to your home is to add houseplants. Using houseplants as a part of your interior design is very beneficial as it cleans the air, brings positive energy and gives your home a beautiful look.

Tips For Using Houseplants To Decorate Your Home

1. If your room is small in height, then you can use tall and slender plants like Dracaena marginata. They give a feeling of a high ceiling in the room.
2. Flowering plants may be grown in children’s room and the living room as their brightness brings mental peace and serenity.
3. Flowering plants like Orchids, Anthuriums, and African violets can also be used on dining tables, coffee tables, fireplace mantles or on the

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Peace Lily

Common Name: Peace Lily, White Flag, White Sails, Spath Flower
Latin Name: Spathiphyllum
Family: Aroid
Plant Type:  Perennial
Origin: Central and South America
Blooming Time: Year round
Humidity: High humidity
Temperature: 60-85°F
Height: 5′ H  4′ W
Color: Dark green foliage, white flowers
Insects and Diseases: Thrips, mealy bugs

Description:
The Peace Lillies are very pretty houseplants even just for their dark green foliage that gracefully arches over. The leaves can grow to over one foot in length. The white blossoms develop on top of slender, straight stems and create a dramatic effect against the dark green foliage.

The blossoms are generally taller than the foliage and resemble a Calla Lily. Flowers begin a pale green and turn to a creamy white as it matures. They’re long lasting blooms, but have a very light fragrance.