Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2012/January 2013 | Page 77

What's in sea son?
Cheery Cherries
The Christmas cherry is a cheerful
addition to a winter interior with glossy
berries in shades of yellow, orange and
red. They are easy going plants that do
not need too much cosseting. Keep well
watered and away from the reach of
children and pets as the berries are toxic.

Ad mira ble A ma ryllis
Amaryllis bulbs are a popular Christmas
gift, arriving ready to pot as soon as they
are opened. If you are lucky enough to
receive one, pot it up as soon as possible
and keep just moist until the roots start to
grow. You should be rewarded with exotic
flowers in a few weeks.

Perfect Poinsettia
Poinsettias have become inextricably
linked with Christmas, but frustrate many
of us by dropping their colourful bracts
once we bring them home. They dislike
cold draughts and overwatering so keep
them in a minimum temperature of 18-24
C and only water once the leaves start to
wilt slightly.

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It is almost impossible to imagine Christmas without
thinking about a conifer dark and resinous, covered in
decorations, twinkling brilliantly surrounded with a pile
of tantalizing gifts at the base. The most familiar is the
Common Spruce, the most easily grown species. Now a
far greater range of varieties is available, and the fir trees
are one of the best alternative choices as they are far
less prone to dropping needles so quickly. They are more
difficult to grow and this is reflected in the cost, but they
do add a special touch with bolder needles which have a
lovely silvery colour.

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