Holiday decorating would not be the same without the classic Poinsettia. They are the iconic seasonal touch that brightens up our homes and offices. Poinsettias also make great gifts for friends, family and co-workers who appreciate festive decor.
Known for being low-maintenance also adds to their popularity. Keeping your Poinsettia looking healthy and vibrant during the holidays and beyond is easy when you know these few simple steps to care for it.
Temperature
This is a plant that is sensitive to temperature fluctuations and extremes. Keep it in its plastic sleeve while you’re transporting it. Immediately remove the protective wrapping as soon as you’re home.
Keep your plant away from drafts or a direct heat source like a fireplace or heat vent. Poinsettias thrive in temperatures between 18-22°C during the day and around 15°C at night. Ideal temperatures will keep the bracts (flowers) colourful.
Light
A spot with bright, indirect light is ideal for your Poinsettia. Placing it near a window, but not in direct sunlight, so that it gets at least 6 hours of light a day is optimal.
Water
Water your Poinsettia plant thoroughly when the soil's surface is dry to the touch.
Allow the plant to drain well. If your plant is in a foil wrapper, or it’s been placed in a decorative container without holes, or on a plant tray, remove any excess water to avoid root rot.
While Poinsettias do not like sitting in water, they do appreciate humidity. Keep a tray or vase with water nearby, or occasionally mist your plant to maintain humidity.
By following these easy steps, your Poinsettia will look great for months, making it a cheerful addition to your home right into late winter!
You read that right. Easy houseplants exist, and there are some very cool varieties too. Easy does not mean boring!
Plenty of tropical plants are forgiving and require little fussing—you just need to know which ones and how to care for them.
These plants are generally resilient and forgiving of occasional neglect, making them perfect choices for new growers. When choosing any houseplant, consider your home's lighting conditions and the care you can provide.
Pothos
Pothos vine is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and is perfect for beginners.
Bright and indirect light is what this plant loves, but it will also grow in low light - just not no light.
Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Too much moisture will cause the roots to rot. The plant’s leaves will droop and let you know when it needs a drink!
Feed Pothos with a balanced fertilizer monthly in Spring and Summer only to keep it thriving.
Ponytail Palm
Give this plant the brightest location in the house. It loves full sun or bright, indirect light. They will survive to 10 Celsius, but this plant loves warmer temperatures.
Be careful not to overwater Ponytail Palms. Because water is stored in the bulbous stem, they only need a drink every 7 to 10 days during the summer. In the winter, cut back to monthly watering.
Use a slow-release pellet fertilizer in the Spring for carefree maintenance.
Trimming the tips off damaged leaves will keep them healthy.
Peace Lily
This plant loves filtered or indirect sun (place it a few feet away from a sunny window or in an east-facing window) and moderately moist soil.
While Peace Lilies love moist and warm conditions, keeping them under-watered is best. Use your finger to check the soil’s moisture. Water this plant when the top inch of soil has dried out.
Use slow-release fertilizer pellets in the Spring or feed the soil weekly during the summer with liquid fertilizer. This plant enjoys frequent feeding during the growing season.
Spider Plant
Spider plants are straightforward to grow. They prefer an area with partial sun or semi-shade that is warm.
Keep the soil lightly moist, not soggy!
Use an all-purpose fertilizer during the summer months. Trim off any brown leaves as needed.
Snake Plant
Indirect sun (a few feet away from a sunny window) or a couple hours of early morning sun will keep this plant happy. These tropicals thrive in warm temperatures with no cold drafts.
Do not allow your Snake plant to sit in water! Water deeply, then let it drain only when the soil is dry.
A 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer at half strength once in the spring and again in mid-summer is all the plant food it needs!
One Final Tip
Most houseplants do not like chlorinated or treated tap water. If possible, water your plants with filtered, distilled, or rainwater. If you only have access to tap water, allow it to sit in an open container for several days until the chlorine evaporates.
Following these simple guidelines will keep your plants healthy, and in return, they will provide natural beauty to your home.
Ah, the sanctuary of a nice, cool shade garden on a hot summer day. Lush foliage comes to mind, and maybe a nap in a hammock. But what do you do when you have a shady spot in the garden that isn’t so lush and could use a boost? A planted container or two can be just the thing!
Here’s a scenario that can happen to any of us. A plant isn’t doing well and needs to be moved. Or maybe something just didn’t survive. Now what to do with that gap? The beauty of planting in pots is that you can move them around, but also create conditions for plants that you might not have in the garden. For example, one of the toughest places to grow anything is in dry shade - tree roots can compete for space and for moisture. That’s when planting in a container, or several is the way to go.
What is a Shade Garden?
In general, a shade garden is an area that gets less than six hours of sunlight in a day. When choosing plants, remember that some will tolerate shade better than others. When it comes to plants, shady areas are divided into three categories:
- Full shade - no direct sunlight, only reflected sunlight from surrounding areas
- Partial or Semi shade - in the sun for part of the day and shade for the rest
- Light shade - sunlight that is filtered, like under a tree with smaller leaves
Choosing Containers and Pots
While containers can be made out of a variety of materials like plastic, concrete, wood or fiberglass, the key is using a pot with at least one drainage hole.
Keep in mind that smaller pots will dry out more quickly. Larger pots retain moisture longer, but when they’re full of soil and plants they get heavy. Look for a Goldilocks pot that’s “just right”, or splurge on a Schwarzenegger-sized pot if you’re looking to build up those biceps!
Whatever pot size you choose, always use a growing medium that’s designed especially for containers. At Eising Garden Centre you’ll find potting mix which is light and airy, unlike garden soil, which will compact and retain too much moisture. If you’re using a big container, you may want to use a smaller, more shallow pot as an insert, or put natural mulch in the bottom before you add potting soil. Doing this will reduce the amount of soil used, and keep the container lighter as well.
Plant Selection
This is the fun part! While many plants do well in pots, here are just some of our favourite shade plants for containers:
Coleus
Coleus is an annual that will grow in full shade and comes in a variety of very interesting leaf colours. This plant is known for its vibrant leaf colours, not its blooms.
Begonia
Begonias come in a wide variety of shapes and colours, making them a versatile annual for containers. Some varieties are happy in full shade, while others like light, or filtered shade. Most begonias like good drainage so their roots are not too wet.
Impatiens
These annuals are popular for a reason! They come in a wide range of very brightly coloured flowers that do well in full shade.
Trailing Lobelia
The trailing type of Lobelia is an annual that grows well in shade. The masses of prolific blooms come in many pretty colours to mix and match with other plants.
Caladium
A showy annual with vibrantly coloured leaves that will illuminate any shady area. Caladiums like partial to full shade but if you’re a pet owner be careful - this plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Heuchera or Coral Bells
Coral Bells are perennials that also come in a wide variety of beautiful leaf colours. This plant will thrive in shade, but can also tolerate some sun and they are drought tolerant.
Hosta
Known for its lush foliage, this perennial comes in such a wide variety of sizes, colours, and sun tolerance, and is by far a favourite. Many people don’t think of it as a container plant but for all of the features mentioned, it makes a great choice as a potted plant.
Fertilizer
Like all plants in containers, check the moisture levels often and provide water and fertilizer throughout the growing season. This article contains more information on caring for annuals and perennials.
Design
While you can mix and match any plants for shade containers, this article about container design ideas for sun-loving annuals may inspire you!
As mentioned above, many plants will do very well in containers. It’s also fun to experiment with annuals and perennials you can’t necessarily grow in the garden, or for anyone with a patio or balcony. Don’t be afraid to mix annuals and perennials together in a container, or to use one statement plant. Some potted plants will need extra protection in the winter like perennials, small trees, and shrubs, but growing plants in containers is a great way to add a splash of colour, or include some bold foliage in tough-to-grow areas.
