University of Wisconsin - Extension

It's the New Year, the tree is compost, half the toys are broken, and everyone is on a diet. But one memory of the holiday can remain bright - the beautiful flowering plants of the holidays can continue to bring color and joy for months - or years to come.

Amaryllis, poinsettias, and Christmas cactus can be coaxed into another year's bloom, according to horticulture experts at the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Amaryllis

You can save amaryllis bulbs from year to year and, if treated well, the blooms will become more spectacular every year.

If your amaryllis is still blooming now, you can prolong the flower's life by removing pollen-bearing stamens inside the flower with tweezers. When the flowers are finished, cut the flower stalk off with a sharp knife several inches above the bulb. Do not remove any leaves.

Keep your amaryllis in a sunny south or west window, keep the soil moist, and fertilize it once a month. You want to keep the plant growing to build up enough energy for next year's flowers.

You can keep your amaryllis indoors all year, or you can plant it outdoors in late May. Choose a well drained sunny spot and sink the pot into the ground up to the rim. Water the plant regularly, and continue fertilizing right through summer.

Bring the pot inside in early October, before the first frost, remove the bulb from the soil and wash it off. Lay it out carefully and allow the leaves to dry. The bulb needs a two-month rest to flower again.

At the end of November, plant the bulb in a clean pot with new soil and wait for the blooming cycle to begin again.

Christmas Cactus

A Christmas cactus is relatively easy to maintain from year to year. This cactus likes a well-drained soil mix rich in organic matter -- one part potting soil, two parts peat moss or compost and one part sharp sand, perlite or vermiculite.

Keep the soil evenly moist. Fertilize your cactus when new growth starts from the branch tips in late winter or early spring, and monthly through summer. Use a one-quarter strength solution of soluble plant fertilizer or an organic fertilizer. A strong fertilizer solution can damage your Christmas cactus's fine, scant root system.

Give your Christmas cactus high light during winter, but indirect or filtered light during summer.

Your cactus needs a rest in fall to encourage it to produce flower buds. In September, let the soil dry out thoroughly before watering. This is also the time to move your plant to a brighter location.

Christmas cactus also needs cooler conditions in fall in order to set flower buds. Temperatures dropping to the 50s or 60s at night encourage flowers to develop.

To avoid flower bud drop, keep the soil evening moist.

Poinsettia

The brightly-colored poinsettia is one of the most brilliant decorations of the holiday season. With a little care, you can keep your poinsettia blooming well into the new year. And with patience you can make it turn crimson again next year.

Keep your poinsettia in a bright, sunny location. Without bright light, the colorful bracts and green leaves lose their luster and fade quickly. In a good spot, they'll retain their color for months.

Originally a Mexican wildflower, poinsettias do best with temperatures in the sixties. Extended periods of higher temperatures will shorten the life of the bracts. Extended periods of cooler temperatures will encourage root rot. Don't let any part of the plant touch cold windows.

Poinsettias do not tolerate drafts so keep them away from radiators, air registers, fans, open windows and doorways. If possible, place your poinsettia in a cooler room at night to extend the blooming time. A nighttime temperature of 55 to 60 degrees is ideal.

Examine the soil regularly and water only when it feels dry. Always water enough to soak the soil to the bottom of the pot and discard the excess water. But don't let your poinsettia sit in water or it will suffer from root rot.

Use a soluble houseplant fertilizer and feed the plant once or twice a month, following manufacturers' recommendations.

If you'd like your poinsettia to bloom again next Christmas, follow these steps to produce colorful leaf bracts.

Sometime between late September and mid-October keep your poinsettia in uninterrupted darkness from sundown to sunup everyday, for one to two months. These long dark periods stimulate the plant to produce colorful leaf bracts.

Commercial poinsettia growers use shade cloth to provide uninterrupted darkness for their plants. You may want to put your plant in a closet each evening or cover it with a cardboard box.

Whatever method you use, remember that even a little light for a little while can prevent flowering. This includes light from the corner streetlight or the occasional flash of room light when you open the closet door.

Move the poinsettia into full sun during the day.

For more information about blooming holiday plants, contact your county UW-Extension office and ask about Extension bulletins on care of holiday plants.