Holiday plants can be enjoyed in 2010

Q. For the holidays I received a beautiful poinsettia. How do I keep the plant blooming as long as possible?

A. With proper care the plant should retain its color well into 2010. The poinsettia should be kept in bright indirect light such as a south-facing window. Direct sunlight will fade the colorful bracts (modified leaves.)

Keep the plant out of hot or cold drafts and don't let any part of the plant touch cold windowpanes. Ideal daytime temperatures are between 60 to 70 degrees. High temperatures shorten the life of the bracts, while night temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees will lengthen the bloom period.

Keep the plant evenly moist but water only when it is dry. Remove the foil covering from the drain holes and place plant on a saucer but do not let the plant stand in water.

The poinsettia makes an attractive garden plant in the summer. To prepare it for summer outdoors, fertilize it sparingly once a month with a water soluble houseplant fertilizer after the bloom period ends. In April water and fertilize less to toughen the roots for life outdoors. In April also prune each stem to two buds and gradually expose the plant to outdoor conditions during the day when temperatures are above freezing.

After the danger of frost (mid to late May in the Chicago area) and nighttime temperatures are above 50, you can plant the poinsettia in well-drained soil in a sunny garden spot that gets moderate shade in the afternoon. Once it is planted outdoors give it adequate water and fertilize it weekly. As new shoots develop, pinch back the tips to 2 to 3 newly matured leaves on each stem to produce a full bushy plant. You will be rewarded with a lovely plant to enhance your summer garden.

Q. I purchased a beautiful blooming Christmas cactus for the holidays. How do I care for it so it will bloom again next year?

A. Your Christmas cactus needs bright indirect light to keep flowers from fading. The maximum daytime temperature should be 70 degrees with preferred nighttime temperatures between 60 and 65. Temperatures above 70 degrees may cause the buds to drop.

Your cactus is not as drought tolerant as its name suggests. Water it thoroughly and let it dry between waterings. Check the soil periodically. If the plant is too dry, the leaves will wrinkle and it will lose its buds.

After the flowering period ends, fertilize the plant every two weeks with a water soluble houseplant fertilizer.

In June you may want to prune it to encourage even branching.

In late September, move the plant to a cool area in the house where it will be in continuous darkness for 13 hours each day. The 13 hour period of darkness (photoperiod) is critical for buds to form for the upcoming holiday season.

Christmas cactuses are hardy plants that can reward you with flowers for many holiday seasons. These cactuses have become family heirlooms, living for several generations.

• Provided by Mary Boldan and Donna Siemro, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners. Send questions to Ask a Master Gardener, c/o Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 W. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016, (847) 298-3502, or via e-mail to cookcountymg@sbcglobal.net.