DOCSLIB.ORG

Interesting Facts About Holiday Plants This Article Was Originally Published 02/09/09 Steering Committee Mtg

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Interesting Facts About Holiday Plants This Article Was Originally Published 02/09/09 Steering Committee Mtg Vol. 23, No. 12 Editors: Jean Murray/Lisa Slattery/Julie Stark December 2013 MG EVENTS Interesting Facts about Holiday Plants This article was originally published 02/09/09 Steering Committee Mtg. The poinsettia, Christmas cactus, and Extension Office mistletoe can be found in many homes December 3 • 6:30 pm during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. The poinsettia and Christmas cactus are prized for their colorful flowers. Mistletoe is hung in the home for those wishing for a kiss. While the Winter Garden Fair Previews poinsettia, Christmas cactus, and Extension Office Conf. Rm mistletoe are recognized by nearly everyone, many individuals aren't Thursday, December 5 aware of interesting facts about these 6:00 - Straw Bale Gardening plants. 7:00 - Beautiful Bulbs All Year Long Poinsettia Monday, December 9 The poinsettia is native to Mexico and 5:00 - Fabulous Foliage cultivated by the Aztecs. The colorful Monday, December 16 bracts were used to make a reddish 5:00 - Extending Growing Season purple dye and the milky sap was used 6:00 - Hybrid Lilies to treat fevers. Poinsettias were first Tuesday, December 17 introduced in the U.S. by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the U.S. Ambassador to 6:00 Plants Deeply Rooted in Mexico from 1825-1829. Poinsett History Thursday, December 19 (article continued page 2) 7:00 - Successful Hanging Baskets and Containers What’s Inside... 8:00 - Green with Envy Interesting Facts About Holiday Plants— pages 1-2 Did You Know… —page 3 Lowe Park Greenhouse Update—page 4 "The gardening season officially begins on January 1st, and Report Your Hours—page 5 ends on December 31st." Winter Gardening Fair Previews ~ Marie Huston Scheduled—page 6 Coordinator Comments—page 7 Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine—page 8 Holiday Gardening Gift Ideas—page 9 December (continued from page 1) had plants sent to his home in South Carolina where he gave them to horticultural friends and botanical gardens. The colorful part of the poinsettia, (the plant's flowers), are actually modified leaves or bracts. The true flowers are yellow to green, button-like objects located in the center of the bracts. Poinsettias are short-day plants as they grow vegetatively during the long days of summer and produce flowers when days become shorter in the fall. In order for poinsettias to flower for Christmas, they must receive complete darkness from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. each day from early October until the bracts show good color, usually around early December. The poinsettia is not poisonous, however, it is not intended for human or animal consumption. One potential health problem associated with the poinsettia occurs when individuals develop skin irritation from the milky sap that oozes from the plant’s stem if it is cut or broken. Christmas Cactus Holiday cactus is a more accurate name as a plant purchased during the holidays may be a Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii), a Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata), or a hybrid. Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti are similar in appearance. However, the stem segments on the Christmas cactus have scalloped edges, while the stem segments on the Thanksgiving cactus have 2-4 pointed teeth along their edges. Schlumbergera bridgesii and Schlumbergera truncata are native to the mountainous forests of southeastern Brazil. Holiday cacti are epiphytes-they grow in the crotches of trees and derive water and nutrition from rain, decaying organic matter, and filtered sunlight. The stems of holiday cacti are composed of flattened stem segments or phylloclades which carry on photosynthesis for the plant. Day-length and temperature control the flowering of both Schlumbergera species. Like the poinsettia, holiday cacti are short-day plants and will not bloom properly if exposed to artificial light at night. Flowers may also fail to develop if the plant is exposed to temps above 70 degrees F. Night temps of 60-65 degrees F with slightly warmer day temps are ideal for flower formation. Mistletoe Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant with small, leathery leaves and small, white berries. Mistletoe plants manufacture their own food, but must obtain water and minerals from the host plant. American mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) is found growing in deciduous trees from New Jersey and southern Indiana southward to Florida and Texas. It is the state flower of Oklahoma. Mistletoe sold during the holiday season is from the wild and most are harvested in Oklahoma and Texas. Mistletoe fruit is poisonous so for safety reasons, most companies have replaced the fruit with artificial, plastic berries. The scientific name Phoradendron is Greek derived and literally means "thief of the tree." As you gaze upon the poinsettia, Christmas cactus, and mistletoe this holiday season, enjoy the beauty and traditions of these holiday plants. However, don't forget some of the interesting facts about these unique plants. By: Richard Jauron, Department of Horticulture 2 Germinator Did You Know… Have plastic plant pots around the house that you want to recycle? You can always return them to the nursery, or put them to good use around your home: Clean Fruits and Veggies: Place stuff you pick from the garden in clean pots and rinse off dirt with water from your outdoor tap. Let the water drain out the bottom holes before storing your bounty. Displace Dirt in a Larger Pot: When repotting a plant, turn a plastic pot upside down in the new, larger container and add soil around it. When you're done, pull out the plastic pot and there will be plenty of room inside the bigger container to place your plant's root ball Protect Blades: Flip seedling trays upside down and use the crevices to store saws or workshop knives so that the blades don't get damaged in storage. Lift a Paint Project Off the Ground: Use four or more pots to prop up a cabinet door, piece of trim, or other item you're painting so that you can reach every nook and cranny. Keep Twine Untangled: Put a ball of twine in a plastic pot, and pull the end through a hole in the bottom to keep it neat when using. Store Holiday Ornaments: Keep small decorations segregated by enclosing them in seedling trays: Place items in the bottom tray, invert the second tray on top of it, and seal with packing tape. For very small items, place in a single tray, top with a scrap piece of cardboard, and tape closed. Sift Salt Onto an Icy Spot: Stack two plastic pots, holding them so that there's an inch or so of space between their bottom surfaces, and fill the top one with rock salt. Shake the pots over the surface of your driveway or walkway. Using two pots prevents the salt from falling through the bottom holes too quickly. Encourage Kids to Save: Give your kids clean seedling trays and have them sort spare change: one section each for pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters Organize Hardware: Use seedling trays in drawers or on workbench to sort and store nuts, bolts, nails, and odds and ends. Article taken from: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20293256_20649536,00.html Want to contact a fellow Linn County Master Gardener or update your personal profile? http://mgquickfind.info/ December 3 Lowe Greenhouse Update—”Saturday Under Glass” By Phil Pfister The final Saturday Under Glass Workshop for the 2013 season at the Lowe Park Greenhouse was held on Saturday, November 16, 2013. The event was a hands on make a ‘Holiday Arrangement’ Workshop, where participants made arrangements using evergreens, and a variety of natural and painted dried plants and foliage, including various grasses, hydrangea blooms, sedums, heathers, dusty miller, holly and many other plants that can be found in our gardens, along the roadside, and at the park. Fifteen people participated in the workshop. Shelby Foley and Phil Pfister led the workshop, and Larry Dawson assisted. This was a fun event, and several asked that we repeat it again next year. 4 Germinator Report Your Hours From: Iowa Master Gardener Newsletter—November 2013 For 2013 the Master Gardener volunteer hours requirement to remain active has increased from 6 to 12 hours per year. By the end of 2013 all active MGs must complete at least 12 hours of volunteer service annually. The MG continuing education hour requirement has not changed from 6 hours required yearly. The average number of hours volunteered by Iowa Master Gardeners in 2012 was 41, so for most the expanded requirement should not be a concern. Recently the National Extension Master Gardner Task Force recommended establishing minimum national standards for Master Gardener service and continuing education. The recommendations are for 20 hours of service and 10 hours of continuing education annually. As you can see, Iowa currently does not meet those standards, even with the increase this past year. The State Master Gardener Advisory Committee is considering this recommendation, and would like your input on whether Iowa should adopt the proposed national Master Gardener service standards. In comparison to our neighbors, Iowa is lagging in Master Gardener volunteer service and continuing education. Here are the numbers for 2012: Iowa Illinois Minnesota Wisconsin # of active 2436 3400 2445 3064 MGs # volunteer 99,946 200,216 131,000 207,324 hours Ave. volunteer 41.0 58.9 53.6 67.7 hrs/MG Total Cont. ed. 20,042 42,660 34,000 67,094 hours Ave. cont. ed. 8.2 12.5 13.9 21.9 hrs/MG The numbers reported in Iowa are at least 25% less than our neighboring states in the Upper Midwest--both for volunteer service and continuing education hours. Let's make sure that ALL your hours for 2013 get reported! I suspect that many of you don't report everything that you do for the Master Gardener program.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Bibliography of Selected Literature Published Since 2010 for Rhipsalis.Com
    Bibliography of Selected Literature Published Since 2010 for Rhipsalis.com Compiled by Jorge Quiñónez. Thanks to MHJ Barfuss !"hoeless Mike#$ and %. Hofa&ker for their help. This bibliography was first published on ()(*)+,(* and last updated on +)-)+,(.. The newest entries in this update are printed in bold and are from the later half of +,(* to +)-)+,(.. %kunne TC/ %kah 0%/ Nwabunike 2%/ Nworu C"/ 3kereke 45/ 3kereke NC 6 3keke 7C. +,(8. %nti9 inflammatory and anti&an&er a&tivities of e;tra&t and fra&tions of Rhipsalis neves-armondii Ca&ta&eae$ aerial parts. Cogent Biology +,(8$/ +< (+=>+-. http<))d;.doi.org)(,.10*,)+==(+,+-.2,(8.12=>+-. %lmeida 3JG/ Cota9"@n&hez JH, 6 0aoli %%". +,(=. The systemati& signifi&an&e of floral morphology/ ne&taries/ and ne&tar &on&entration in epiphyti& &a&ti of tribes Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae Ca&ta&eae$. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics (-< +--A+88. B32< d;.doi.org)(,.10(8)C.ppees.2,(=.08.,,( Bauer D. 6 Korotkova N. +,(8. Eine neue Rhipsalis aus Brasilien A Rhipsalis barthlottii. Kakteen und andere Su ulenten 8> (($< +*(9+87. Bautista9"an Juan %/ Cibri@n9Tovar J, "alomé9%bar&a F7/ "oto9Hern@ndez/ DM 6 Be la Cruz9Be la Cruz E. +,17. Composi&ión GuHmi&a del aroma de tallos y frutos de Rhipsalis baccifera J. Miller$ "tearn! Revista "itotecnia #exicana I, ($< I-9-4. http<))www.redaly&.org)html)8(,)8(,-,-I.,,>) Bo&kemühl J 6 Bauer D. +,(+. Kildformen der Schlumbergera truncata. 402? >,< (.9=,. Bockemühl J. 2018. Rhipsalis hoelleri Barthlott & N. P. Taylor. EPIG 81: 16-18. Braga JM% 6 7reitas M.
    [Show full text]
  • (12) United States Plant Patent (10) Patent No.: US PP20,204 P3 Rasmussen (45) Date of Patent: Aug
    USOOPP20204P3 (12) United States Plant Patent (10) Patent No.: US PP20,204 P3 Rasmussen (45) Date of Patent: Aug. 4, 2009 (54) SCHLUMBERGERA PLANT NAMED SAMBA (52) U.S. Cl. ....................................................... Pt/372 BRAZIL. (58) Field of Classification Search .................... Pt. 1372 (50) Latin Name: Schlumbergera truncata See application file for complete search history. Varietal Denomination: SAMBA BRAZIL (75) Inventor: Lau Lindegaard Rasmussen, Primary Examiner June Hwu Kerteminde (DK) (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Foley & Lardner LLP (73) Assignee: Rohde's A/S, Kerteminde (DK) (57) ABSTRACT (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this A new and distinct Schlumbergera plant named SAMBA patent is extended or adjusted under 35 BRAZIL particularly characterized by large upright to verti U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. cal flowers, with less reflexing of petals; flowers which have petals which are red-purple (RHS 58A) in color at the edges, (21) Appl. No.: 12/082,787 color transitioning to orange (RHS 27D) and then white (22) Filed:1-1. Apr. 14, 2008 (RHS N155B) at the center of ppetal, and with a white (RHS (65) Prior Publication Data N155C) throat; large quantity of flowers per plant; moder ately vigorous growth rate and fairly compact, freely branch US 2009/0070905 P1 Mar. 12, 2009 ing growth habit; and ovoid to lanceolatoid buds red-purple (51) Int. C. (RHS N66A) in color. AOIH 5/00 (2006.01) 4 Drawing Sheets 1. 2 Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: and have a unique color combination of the flowers com Schlumbergera truncata, bined with healthy, shiny green phyllocladia and excellent Variety denomination: SAMBA BRAZIL.
    [Show full text]
  • Analyses of the Proposals to Amend the CITES Appendices at the 14Th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties
    IUCN/TRAFFIC Analyses of the Proposals to Amend the CITES Appendices at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties The Hague, Netherlands 3–15 June 2007 Prepared by IUCN Species Programme and Species Survival Commission and TRAFFIC ANALYSES IUCN/TRAFFIC Analyses of the Proposals to Amend the CITES Appendices at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties The Hague, Netherlands 3–15 June 2007 Prepared by IUCN Species Programme and Species Survival Commission and TRAFFIC Production of the 2007 IUCN/TRAFFIC Analyses of the Proposals to Amend the CITES Appendices was made possible through the support of: • The Commission of the European Union • Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Department for Nature, Netherlands • Ministère de l'écologie et du développement durable, Direction de la nature et des paysages, France • Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Dirección General para la Biodiversidad, Spain • Office vétérinaire fédéral, Switzerland • Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio, Direzione Protezione della Nature, Italy • Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), UK • Danish Ministry of the Environment, Forest and Nature Agency • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Division for Nature Conservation and Species Protection, Austria IUCN -The World Conservation Union brings together states, government agencies and a diverse range of non-governmental organizations in a unique global partnership - over 1,000 members in some 181 countries. As a Union, IUCN seeks to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
    [Show full text]
  • PC20 Doc. 16.3 Annex 2
    PC20 Doc. 16.3 Annex 2 ASSESSMENT OF TRADE IN EPIPHYTIC CACTI AND REVIEW OF LISTING OF CACTACEAE SPP. IN APPENDIX II 1. This document has been prepared by Mr James Grogan under contract with the CITES Secretariat.1 2. Background information can be found in two key CITES documents: CoP15 Doc. 55, submitted by the Management Authority of Switzerland, describes the issue under consideration in this report, whether certain genera of epiphytic cacti (seven as listed below) should be excluded from Appendix II based on the preponderance of artificially propagated compared to wild- collected specimens in international trade; IUCN Red List conservation status is reviewed, and trade data for gross exports of wild-collected specimens from range nations during 1975–2008 are presented; PC19 Doc. 14.1, prepared by the Chair of the Working Group on the Periodic Review with assistance from the Scientific Authority of Mexico, presents further analysis of trade data during 1998–2008 including the number of specimens of epiphytic cacti in trade that were artificially propagated, number of records and specimens that were wild collected, confiscated or seized, or of unknown origin during this period, and geographic ranges of species in question. Natural range, morphology & taxonomy of the epiphytic cacti 3. The Cactaceae are a New World family except for one species, the epiphytic Rhipsalis baccifera, which is also found in Africa, Madagascar and as far east as Sri Lanka. Seven genera are considered here: Disocactus, Epiphyllum, Hatiora, Lepismium, PseudoRhipsalis, Rhipsalis, and Schlumbergera. 4. These genera are grouped in two tribes of the subfamily Cactoideae within the Cactaceae family: Hylocereeae: Disocactus, Epiphyllum, PseudoRhipsalis Rhipsalideae: Hatiora, Lepismium, Rhipsalis, Schlumbergera 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Notice to the Wildlife Import/Export Community
    NOTICE TO THE WILDLIFE IMPORT/EXPORT COMMUNITY June 8, 2010 Subject: Changes to CITES Species Listings Background: Party countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meet approximately every two years for a Conference of the Parties. During these meetings, countries review and vote on amendments to the listings of protected species in CITES Appendix I and Appendix II. Such amendments become effective 90 days after the last day of the meeting unless Party countries agree to delay implementation. The most recent Conference of the Parties (CoP 15) was held in Doha, Qatar, March 13-15, 2010. Action: The amendments to CITES Appendices I and II that appear below (which were adopted at CoP 15) will be effective on June 23, 2010. Any specimens of these species imported into, or exported from, the United States on or after June 23, 2010 will require CITES documentation as specified under the amended listings. The import, export, or re-export of shipments of these species that are accompanied by CITES documents reflecting a pre-June 23 listing status or that lack CITES documents because no listing was previously in effect must be completed by midnight (local time at the point of import/export) on June 22, 2010. Importers and exporters can find the official revised CITES appendices on the CITES website at http://www.cites.org. Species Added to Appendix I Neurergus kaiseri (Kaiser’s spotted newt) Species Added to Appendix II Adenia olaboensis (Adenia) Agalychnis annae (Blue-sided tree frog) Agalychnis callidryas
    [Show full text]
  • The Dicot Order, Caryophyllales
    lnterfamilia/Relationships of Cactaceae within the Dicot Order, Caryophyllales by James E. Oliver A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton , Florida December 1998 lnterfamilial Relationships of Cactaceae ~vithin the Dicot Order, Caryophyllales by Jarne.s E. Oliver Tt·ds thesis was prepamd ur.dor the direction of the candidate's thesis advisor, Dr. David M. Binninger, Department of Bioiogic:a: SGi ence, and has t-,efm c..pproved by members of his supervisoiy comm ittAG lt wa.s submitted to th0 f;:~cu!ty of t;·,e Cr,ar ies E. Schmidt College of Sc1ence and was accepmd as ~~ ailial fulfillment of the requirements for the dsg:-ee of Master of Sc;snce. S UPERVIS08'r' COMiVliTTc~ : 1-Jd.-70 ---'---~ - · -.. - ~--~. · --·- ·· ·- -· - J O::;, t ~ il Acknowledgments I would like to thank my advisors, Dr. David Binninger, Dr. Daniel Austin and Dr. Ralph Adams for their patience and guidance in enabling me to complete this project. I also want to give special thanks to Chris Doughtery for his work in generating the genetic sequence data that made my research possible. ill Abstract Author: James E. Oliver Title: lnterfamilial Relationships of Cactaceae within the Dicot Order, Caryophyllales Institution: Florida Atlantic University Thesis Advisor: Dr. Daniel F. Austin and Dr. David M. Binninger Degree: Master of Science Year: 1998 The position of the cactus family, Cactaceae, within the order Caryophyllales was examined by outgroup analysis of chloroplast rbcL gene sequence data.
    [Show full text]
  • Garden Chatter, November 2017 Merced Garden Club, Inc
    Garden Chatter, November 2017 Merced Garden Club, Inc. http://californiagardenclubs.com/mercedgardenclub facebook page: Merced Garden Club, Inc. Message from our President: The time is NOW to plant spring flowers such as Snapdragons, stock, pansies-violas, calendulas etc. Their roots get a good start and in the spring flowers will explode. It is a good idea to mix in mychorize in planting hole, the product is expensive but it only takes 1/2 teaspoon. Product is available at nurseries but not likely at Lowes or Home Depot. Make your December lunch reservation Nov.8 =$8 members, $10 guests. A Floral Design program will be presented by our own Joleen Mills and Kathy Moren. After program, for those able to stay there will be supplies for you to make your own design and take home. Yearbook additions & corrections: New members: Nancy Barner, [email protected] Kaaren Morgner [email protected] Eileen Ingraham [email protected] Corrections Melissa Smith [email protected] Mary Arellanez [email protected] Martina Gallardo [email protected] Dona Robertson [email protected] Sheri Matsumoto [email protected] At the Oct. 18, 2017 district meeting, Merced Garden Club was presented by Berni Hendricks, CGCI Awards Chairman: A Blue Ribbon Certificate of Achievement and a First Award for 2016-2017 yearbook. Merced Garden Club could use an award chairman to take over our award entries. If you are interested please let Joyce know. Pictures Sunflower painting class Oct. 12, 2017 field trip to Chaffee Fresno Zoo and Forestiere Underground Shirley Gardens was enjoyed by Kirby many members. Pick up received your local free Merced 40 year County Times to read all service about it.
    [Show full text]
  • The Influence of Watering, Shading, and Nitrogen Levels on the Growth of Container-Grown Schlumbergera X Buckleyi
    The Influence of Watering, Shading and Nitrogen Levels on the Growth ofSchlumbergera x buckleyi 297 The Influence of Watering, Shading, and Nitrogen Levels on the Growth of Container-Grown Schlumbergera x buckleyi Mervyn I. Spurway and Michael B. Thomas Horticulture Department, Lincoln University, Canterbury Container-grown Schlumbergera x buckleyi grown in 6 peat: 4 sand (v/v) medium grew more strongly at 60% or 80% container capacity watering levels than at 40%. Flowering was also greater at the two higher watering levels. In a second experiment, 40% and 75% shading reduced growth over the autumn and winter growing period; however, unshaded plants were not as green as those under shade covers. Nitrogen (N) fertilisation above 300 g N·m3 or equivalent to 40 g N·m3 month, depressed growth. It was recommended to maintain media at 60% container capacity, to use a low level of shading to improve plant quality especially over summer, and to use low N rates equivalent to around 35 g N·m3 ·month. INTRODUCTION The Christmas cacti are common flowering pot plants grown primarily for autumn and winter sales. There has been much confusion over the naming of these plants. The true Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera x buckleyi is a hybrid between S. truncata (the Thanksgiving cactus) and S. russelliana. Previously it was called S. bridgesii. The true Christmas cactus characteristically has scalloped-edged stem­ segments (phylloclades), while those of the Thanksgiving cactus are toothed. The latter has been previously known as Epiphyllum truncatum and Zygocactus truncatus. Much hybridisation has taken place with these plants and many cultivars are derived from crosses between Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti.
    [Show full text]
  • CITES Cop15 Prop.25 IUCN-TRAFFIC Analysis (PDF, 30
    Ref. CoP15 Prop. 25 Amendment of the annotation to Cactaceae spp. and all taxa with annotation #1 Delete annotations #1 and #4 and replace them both with the following new annotation for plant taxa listed in Appendix II: All parts and derivatives, except: a) seeds (including seedpods of Orchidaceae), spores and pollen (including pollinia) except those seeds from Cactaceae spp. exported from Mexico; b) seedlings or tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, transported in sterile containers; c) cut flowers of artificially propagated plants; d) fruits and parts and derivatives thereof of naturalized or artificially propagated plants of the genera Vanilla (Orchidaceae), Opuntia subgenus Opuntia (Cactaceae), Hylocereus and Selenicereus (Cactaceae); e) stems, flowers, and parts and derivatives thereof of naturalized or artificially propagated plants of the genera Opuntia subgenus Opuntia and Selenicereus (Cactaceae); and f) finished products of Euphorbia antisyphilitica packaged and ready for retail trade. Amend footnote 6 as follows (delete struck-through text): Artificially propagated specimens of the following hybrids and/or cultivars are not subject to the provisions of the Convention: – Hatiora x graeseri – Schlumbergera x buckleyi – Schlumbergera russelliana x Schlumbergera truncata – Schlumbergera orssichiana x Schlumbergera truncata – Schlumbergera opuntioides x Schlumbergera truncata – Schlumbergera truncata (cultivars) – Cactaceae spp. colour mutants lacking chlorophyll, grafted on the following grafting stocks: Harrisia 'Jusbertii', Hylocereus trigonus or Hylocereus undatus – Opuntia microdasys (cultivars) Proponents: Mexico and the United States of America on behalf of the Plants Committee Background Currently the following taxa listed in Appendix II are subject to annotation #1: Caryocar costaricense, Cycadaceae spp., Didiereaceae spp., Cibotium barometz, Dicksonia spp.
    [Show full text]
  • Holiday Cacti Growing Tips Amy Dosser
    Holiday Cacti Growing Tips Amy Dosser. Horticulture Instructor Johnston Technical College, Smithfield, N.C. Much confusion exists in the nomenclature of holiday cacti. They are now placed in the genus Schlumbergera, formerly being known as Zygocactus or Epiphyllum. Two species of commercial importance exist within this genus: S. truncata, the Thanksgiving cactus and S. bridgesii, the Christmas cactus. Most plants grown commercially are actually S. truncata, but are mistakenly sold as Christmas cacti. The leaf margins of S. truncata bear 2 to 4 serrate projections at the upper edges of the leaf segments (phylloclades), shown in Figure 1. S. bridgesii has a more rounded leaf margin with scallops along the edges (Figure 2). S. truncata blooms naturally in mid to late November, thus the name Thanks giving cactus; while S. bridgesii blooms naturally in mid December, thus the name Christmas cactus. Fig. 1. Thanksgiving cactus, S. Fig. 2. Christmas cactus, truncata, but usually mistakenly S. bridgesii. sold as the Christmas cactus. Propagation Propagation may commence immediately after blooming, as long as adequate bottom heat is applied. A temperature of 70°F is desirable. Cuttings composed of one to 3 phylloclades should be twisted off from the stock plants at the leaf joints. The cutting should begin rooting within 2 to 3 weeks at which time a light fertilization program may be started. Plants propagated in December, January and February can be finished in 4 or 4%" pots. Those propagated in March and April should be finished in 3 or 3%" pots. Vegetative Phase Rooted cuttings can be received in March to May.
    [Show full text]
  • Hale County Master Gardeners
    Texas A&M AgriLife Extension December, 2012 Volume 1, Hale County Master Issue 6 Gardeners Ask the Agent/Master Gardener: Holiday Plant Myth Buster Edition Every year, when the holidays roll around, extension agents and master gardeners often find themselves facing ques- tions about holiday plants. Let’s face it – many holiday traditions involve plants and plant life, so there are going to be questions. Given the number of old wives tales and urban legends surrounding holiday plants and their care, it’s a good thing that people ask questions. I’ll try to briefly (well, as briefly as I can) answer some common questions and dispel some common, pesky rumors. Here we go: Question 1: How do I keep my (child/dog/cat/other creature I care deeply) about from eating the poisonous poin- settia? Answer: Take a moment and breathe deeply. There’s not as much to fear here as you think. Poinsettias have been much maligned throughout their history and their “toxicity” has been largely overblown. These plants do have a latex sap that may cause skin irritation if touched or stomach problems if ingested, but don’t expect little Timmy or Fido to fall over if they accidentally eat a leaf. In fact, the over 20,000 reported cases studied by the American Journal of Emergency Medicine showed no serious effects or fatalities among poinsettia taste testers. s stem nded rou the The rs of flowe tus and s cac stma Chri Question 2: How do I get my Christmas cactus to bloom? How do I keep it alive? Answer: Are you sure you have a “Christmas Cactus”? I’m willing to bet a small sum that a majority of people, in fact, have a Thanksgiving Cactus.
    [Show full text]
  • Trade in Epiphytic Cacti (Cactaceae Spp.)
    CoP15 Doc. 55 CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA ____________________ Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties Doha (Qatar), 13-25 March 2010 Species trade and conservation TRADE IN EPIPHYTIC CACTI (CACTACEAE SPP.) 1. This document has been submitted by the Management Authority of Switzerland*. Background 2. The listing of Cactaceae spp. in Appendix II contained and continues to contain certain commodities of bulk trade and industrial production, as well as easily identifiable natural taxa that are virtually absent from international trade and not threatened. Consequently, the listing has been streamlined on various occasions in order to exclude taxa not threatened by trade. This lead to exemption of leaf-bearing cacti (Pereskia spp., Pereskiopsis spp. and Quiabentia spp.), artificially propagated, grafted color mutants of Cactaceae spp., certain hybrids and cultivars of epiphytic cacti (Hatiora, Schlumbergera, see below), and cultivars of Opuntia microdasys. Such streamlining allows for a reduction of the workload of authorities in charge of enforcement. Activities like permitting, inspection and reporting for these non-threatened taxa cease. National CITES resources can be allocated in a more effective way, especially for the monitoring of trade in wild-collected plants that are threatened by such trade and their parts and derivatives. 3. Epiphytic cacti are implicitly listed under Cactaceae spp. in Appendix II. International trade in epiphytic cacti is regulated accordingly. In recent times, trade in artificially propagated epiphytic cacti increased dramatically, as they proved to be extremely well suited for indoor cultivation. In contrast, trade in wild- collected specimens is very limited (see Annex 4) and doesn’t show commercial dimensions.
    [Show full text]