Mills County Extension 61321 315th St; P.O. Box 430

Plant Wise Malvern, IA 51551 712-624-8616 http://www.extension.iastate.edu/mills

Prepared by: Shirley D Miller, Mills County Master Gardener Coordinator and Mills County Horticulture Program Assistant December 2020

What Do I Have? and typically bloom in mid to late November. The blooms on a Thanksgiving cactus have yellow Christmas cacti are such beautiful when they pollen-bearing anthers while Christmas cactus , and we often hear that cuttings have been anthers are pink to purplish-brown. passed down from generation to generation, often Christmas Cactus ( bridgesii) still thriving after decades. But are you sure you know which holiday cactus you have? Thanksgiving? Christmas? Easter? Unfortunately, the confusion between these holiday succulents is perpetuated by the fact that they’re often mislabeled in garden centers. Here’s how to tell them apart: Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)

Leaves: The leaves of the Christmas cactus are more rounded, not pointed, with a scalloped edge. The tip of each segment is slightly curved but they can look almost straight across. : The flowers of the Christmas cactus are usually white or pink and bloom in December. Remember, the pollen bearing anthers will be pink to purplish-brown, not yellow. Blooms in mid to late December. But don’t be surprised if you also see blooms between March and May on these plants. Leaves: You can tell the Thanksgiving cactus apart Easter Cactus (Hatiora gaertneri) from the Christmas cactus by the shape of its leaves. The leaf segments, called “phylloclades,” are serrated or “toothed,” with pointy spines; with 2 to 4 on each side. This is why these succulents are referred to as “Crab Claw Cactus.” The end of the last segment is slightly concave with a point on each side. Flowers: Thanksgiving cactus flowers are produced from the tips, or from where the leaf segments join. They resemble a long tube, appearing as if a flower within a flower. They come in a range of colors, mostly pastels, Believe it or not, there’s also an Easter cactus, including red, pink, peach, purple, orange, or white, which blooms in … you guessed it—spring! Leaves: These succulents have leaves with small short days and limited light are less than ideal bristles and a thick ridge on one side. growing conditions. Flowers: have more of a star-shape. They’re native Adjust Your Watering Routine to the natural non-tropical forests of Brazil. Use Indoor plants need less water during the winter. caution when watering as this cactus is much more While it's true that winter air is drier, plants sensitive to over or under-watering. Your Easter experience a slower rate of growth during the cold cactus will show its blooms in March. weather. Some even go completely dormant. Less water is needed to keep them hydrated and overdoing it can lead to root rot. The soil on the surface will dry quickly, but that does not mean the needs water. Poke your finger into the soil and check to see if it is dry an inch below the surface. That's when it's time to water. Try to use water that is about the same temperature as the air, to avoid shocking the plant's roots. Keep in mind that different plants have different water needs; that remains as true in winter as in summer.

The above chart should help with identification Getting Your Holiday Cacti to Bloom To get your cactus to bloom on time next year, Watering your houseplant to Improve Humidity you’ll need to begin temperature and light Low humidity is probably the biggest hurdle to treatments 4-5 weeks before the holiday. Your plant overcome during winter. The humidity level in will need 12 to 14 hours of total darkness, along heated homes can drop to 10 to 20 percent in with cool nighttime temperatures of 60-65 F for winter and plants prefer a level closer to 50 about 3 to 4 weeks in order for buds to form. percent. If you have a humidifier in your home, One way to do this is to place the plant in a dark move your plants to a spot where they will enjoy its closet from 6 pm to 8 am, or you can cover the benefits. If you do not have a humidifier, try one of plant with a large paper bag in the same time these tricks. frame. Once you see buds you can resume normal Start by clustering your plants in groups. Plants lighting, but keep the plants cool. naturally release water through their leaves by If you keep the plant in a continuously cool room transpiring and grouping them together will put that (around 50—60º F) in September and October, moisture to good use. If you have a place in the chances are excellent that it will produce flowers, bathroom, they will benefit from accumulate of although the growth be slower. If temps are too moisture from showers or in the kitchen from the cool, you’ll find that the buds may drop off. cooking process or boiling water. Christmas cactus are known to bloom more than Another good option is the old trick of placing your once a year. The second wave of blooms can plants on or near a tray of water. Just don't let the appear between March and May. It’s not plants sit in the water. Raise the bottom of the pots uncommon for this to happen. above the water level by placing stones in the water (higher than the water level) and sitting the pots on the stones. Misting tends to be better at making the gardener Winter Care for Houseplants feel good, than helping the plant. You may think Indoor plants, whether they are year-round you are giving your plants some relief, but it's only houseplants or plants you brought inside to over- a temporary blast of moisture. You'd need to mist winter, face several challenges. Temperatures that multiple times a day to really see any benefit since fluctuate from daytime heat to evening chill, dry air, the heat will evaporate the moisture quickly.

2 Pay Attention to Temperature Recipe of the Month Most plants, like people, are comfortable in daytime Here is another great recipe using fresh temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit vegetables! Change up your Holiday meal! This is a and nighttime temps above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. nutritious and tasty way to serve Brussels sprouts. To provide that for your plants, keep them away from both cold drafts and sources of heat, like radiators, ovens, fireplaces, and electronic devices. Fluctuations in temperature can kill houseplants just as easily as prolonged periods of heat or cold. Not only is there less sunlight during winter, it comes in at a lower angle. You may need to relocate your houseplants to a brighter spot or even add supplemental light. A good spot would be a south or west facing window that remains sunny all day. Just don't move them to close to a frosty

window where they could get a cold draft.

Balsamic-Glazed Brussels Sprouts YIELD: 6 to 8 PREP TIME: 10 mins. OVEN: 425°F COOK TIME: 35 mins Rotate the pots when you water them so that all sides of the plant get some sun and to keep the INGREDIENTS: plants growing evenly, rather than stretching to  1 (16 oz.) package fresh brussels spouts reach the light.  1 small red onion, thinly sliced Since your plants are barely growing, they don't  5 tablespoons olive oil, divided need any fertilizer. Feeding them now will just upset  1/4 teaspoon salt their natural cycle, so hold off until early spring.  1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper When you start to see signs of new growth, or the  1 small shallot, chopped green of the existing leaves appears to perk up, resume fertilizing, to give them a boost for the  1/4 cup balsamic vinegar growing season.  1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 425°F Lightly grease a baking sheet.

Wash and half the brussel sprouts. Combine brussels sprouts and onion together in a bowl; add 3 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper and gently toss to coat. Spread sprouts mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until sprouts and onion Give your houseplants the essentials to sustain are tender and caramelized, 25 to 30 minutes. them through winter, but don't fuss over them or kill them with kindness. Keep an eye out for early signs Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small of problems, which can still include insect pests, skillet over medium-high heat; sauté shallot until even in winter. But wait until the growing season tender, about 5 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar and resumes, before you re-pot them or start taking cook until glaze is slightly reduced, about 5 cuttings. Consider winter an off-season for your minutes. Stir rosemary into glaze and pour over houseplants and let them rest. sprouts mixture. Serve and enjoy!

3 Growing and Caring for Amaryllis container that has one or more holes in the bottom Whether the first bulb or the fiftieth, there is high and drains easily. (Good drainage will minimize the anticipation for when the large, bright green bud chance of bulb or root rot, from excess moisture.) emerges from a beefy amaryllis bulb! The diameter of the pot should be about 1 inch Amaryllis may be purchased as bare or planted wider than the widest part of the bulb and twice as bulbs, and are prized for their exotic trumpet- tall as the bulb to allow space for good root shaped flowers on 1 to 2 foot leafless stalks or development. scapes. They add dramatic color to homes and Fill the pot about half full with new potting soil high make wonderful gifts to gardeners, from beginners in organic matter such as peat moss. Set the bulb to experts. in the pot so the roots rest on the potting soil. The Native to Peru and South Africa, the bulb should sit up above the edge of the container. Amaryllis comes from the Greek word amarysso, Add more soil, tapping it down around the bulb, which means "to sparkle." Bulbs were brought to until one-third to one-half of the bulb remains Europe in the 1700s and have been known to visible. Firm the potting medium around the bulb. bloom for up to 75 years. Today, most amaryllis are Set the pot in a sink where it can drain freely and hybrids but are still classified in the genus water until the potting soil is thoroughly moist. Allow Hippeastrum. to drain completely. Then set the pot on a saucer Amaryllis flowers range from 4 to 10 inches in size, and place in a sunny window. and can be either single or double in form. Water the plant when the top 2 inches of soil feels dry, allowing the container to drain freely each time. Do not let the plant to sit in water. Fertilize amaryllis each time you water at half the recommended strength when new growth is visible. To promote blooming, use a houseplant fertilizer with a high phosphorus content. Move the plant out of direct sunlight when the flower buds have begun to open.

The secret to keeping amaryllis thriving for years is to keep the plants actively growing after they have While the most popular colors are red and white, finished blooming. After the flowers have faded, cut flowers may also be pink, salmon, apricot, rose or them off to prevent seed formation. Do not remove deep burgundy. Some varieties are bicolor such as the flower stalk until it has turned yellow. A green purple and green, or picotee (having petals with a stem will continue to promote photosynthesis, different edge color). which creates energy that is stored in the bulb for Selecting, planting and caring for bulbs future leaf growth and flowers. Amaryllis bulbs come in various sizes. The size and After your plant has finished blooming, place it in condition of bulbs will influence amaryllis the sunniest possible location indoors. It will performance. Select the largest bulbs as they will continue to grow long, smooth leaves. Continue to produce more stalks and blooms the first year. The water and fertilize the plant regularly with an all- larger the bulb, the more flowers it will have. Bulbs purpose houseplant plant fertilizer. should be firm and dry with no signs of mold, decay When all danger of frost is past in spring, acclimate or injury. It is common to see new growth (leaves, the amaryllis plant to the outdoors by first placing it buds) emerging from bare or planted bulbs. Choose in shade or indirect light. Gradually move the bulbs with bright green new growth and without container to a location or garden bed, deck or patio, spots or visible damage. Amaryllis grow best in where it will receive full sun for at least 6 hours narrow containers. Containers may be made of daily. You can even sink the entire pot into the soil. plastic, metal, ceramic or terracotta. Select a (It is not necessary to remove the amaryllis from

4 the pot.) Continue to fertilize monthly with an all- The Holiday Season purpose houseplant or indoor plant fertilizer. This Do you remember when……? will help build up nutrients in the bulb for flower As a child the anticipation on that cool crisp day, production the next year. when the family loaded up in the car to drive to Amaryllis plants should be brought indoors before Grandma’s house! The smell as you opened her the first frost in the fall. front door! All the food your Grandma, Mother and After bringing the potted amaryllis indoors, store the Aunts cooked! Going into the family room excited to potted plant in a cool, dry, dark location such as a see the Christmas tree with all its tinsel and the basement or closet. The temperature should be wrapped presents underneath it. Seeing the smiles around 50-60 degrees. Let the leaves become on your Aunts and Uncles faces. Your cousins, brown and dry before cutting them off. Leave the excited and ready to play! Everyone visiting and potted bulb in the dark for 8 to 12 weeks. Do not filling the air with love and laughter! All those happy water during this time. Check on it weekly. If new memories of the traditional family holidays! growth appears during this time, remove from the dark location and place in a sunny window. Trim off any dead leaves. Water and fertilize. But if after 8 to 12 weeks, no new growth has appeared, move the potted bulb to a sunny location. Water and fertilize. This process will force the plant to grow and bloom, providing the bulb has sufficient energy to produce a flower stalk. Usually one or more flower stalks appear first, but occasionally they are preceded by leaves. Flowers usually develop in about 4 to 6 weeks from dormant bulbs.

In today’s World, it is so important to connect with Emerald Ash Bore is in Mills County family. Embrace your Family! Take time to enjoy the sparkle it the little one’s eyes! If you cannot see each other in person, reach out with video chat, face-time or even zoom! Remember to thank those who prepared and cooked all the food. The labor of love in growing produce, preserving it, then fixing it for all to eat and enjoy! Stop and take time to smell the flowers, find peace in all that surrounds you, your Family! We all knew it was eventually going to be found Stay safe and enjoy the most precious gift of all, here, it was just a matter of time before it was each other!! I wish all of you a very Happy Holiday positively identified by Iowa State University. Season! Surprisingly, the bore can be active in a large Ash tree for up to nine years before it is detected. Meaning that it has been with us for a few years. You may have questions. Here are some links with New to this publication information on the Emerald Ash Bore. I will be Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is putting more information in future issues of PW. here to help. You will now find the Hotline links and Emerald Ash Borer Discovered in Mills and Shelby phone numbers on the last page of the publication. Counties All calls are free and confidential. Iowa Concern-deals with financial questions, legal https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/files/eo- education, stress counseling, crisis/disaster news/files/FAQ-EAB-OCT-13-2016.pdf resources and referral.

Beginning Farmer-educational programs for https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/emerald- beginning farmers and retiring farm families. ash-borer Teen Line-Helping teens deal with personal and health-related subjects with information and referrals. 5 Iowa 2-1-1-Resource referral for housing, health,  Continue to water your trees and shrubs that were food, family, transportation, employment, education planted this year until the ground freezes. Because it and legal assistance. has been so dry, you may want to water some of AnswerLine-Consumer Family Science questions, your other trees also. childcare development, cleaning, consumer  Make sure to keep your bird feeders clean. There management, food preparation-preservation-safety, are different feeds for different birds. If you have a birdbath with heated water, it is important to rinse it home environment, household equipment, nutrition, out and keep it full. textiles and laundry. Iowa Healthy Families-This web site and toll-free call center was created to provide FREE objective, medically accurate health information for women in Resources for Horticulture information Iowa. Browse the database for great resources or Iowa State University Publications take a look at the Health A to Z section for topics The following ISU Publications are now hyperlinked for easy such as breast and cervical cancer, osteoporosis, access. You can now download and if you like, print them. pregnancy and heart disease. Pub # Publication Hyperlink SUL 15 Oak Wilt - Identification and Management SUL 5 Pruning Trees: Shade, Flowering and Conifer RG 316 Poinsettia Care RG 328 Growing Amaryllis December 2020 IAN 602 Iowa Winter Birds NRC 338 Shelving, Houses, and Feeders for Birds UP COMING HORT 3080 Growing Holiday Cacti EVENTS Horticulture Publications on-line https://www.extension.iastate.edu/store/ListCategories Follow the Hyperlinks below Tuesday, December 15, 5:30pm Trees in Your Landscape: ISU Hotline Links and Numbers Gardening with Extension Hotlines available for all (webinar) Iowa Concern 800-447-1985 Financial questions, legal education, stress counseling, crisis/disaster resources and December referral (24 hrs - all days) Beginning Farmer Center 877-BFC-1999 Program to match GARDENING beginning and retiring farmers (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Teen Line 800-443-8336 Personal and health-related TO DO LIST information and referral (24 hrs - all days) Iowa 2-1-1 211 Resource referral for housing, health, food, family, transportation, employment, education, and legal  Winter is the best time to assistance (24 hrs - all days) prune Oak trees. Pruning in Hot lines available for Iowa Residents Only winter greatly reduces the risk of an oak wilt AnswerLine Toll-free: 800-262-3804 Local: 515-296-5883 infection. Questions relating to home and family (9 am-noon & 1-4 pm)  Protect tender shrubs. Winter winds are especially Iowa Healthy Families 800-369-2229 Health information and damaging to evergreens. In exposed windy areas, referral (24 hrs - all days) you can wrap tender shrubs with burlap or easy-to- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach does not discriminate use shrub wrap. on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic  Real Christmas tree? When buying, gently run your information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, color, hand over a branch. The needles of a fresh tree will religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or statue as a be pliable. Those of a dry tree will be brittle. U.S. veteran, or other protected classes. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies Remember to keep your real tree watered. may be directed to the Diversity Advisor, 2150 Beardshear Hall, 515  Don’t drown your Poinsettia. Poke holes in the Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, (515)294-1482, bottom of the foil. Set the entire pot in a tray. Check [email protected] All Other Inquiries may be directed to the soil daily with your finger. When the surface soil (800)262-3804 becomes dry to the touch, water the plant until water begins to flow out the bottom of the pot. Let sit for 15 minutes, then remove the excess water.  Plant bare-root red currants between November and March while dormant. They like well-drained soil. Allow 5 ft. between bushes and rows. Container grown bushes are available to buy and plant all year round, but will establish better if planted in autumn or winter.

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