Holiday Décor and its Care
go.ncsu.edu/readext?973879
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Português
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲Poinsettias
- Introduced as an ornamental to the US between 1825 and 1829.
- Native to Mexico and widely cultivated by the Aztecs as a perennial species.
- The showy ‘blooms’ of a poinsettia are actually called a bract; the true flowers are button-like green to yellow balls in the center of the bracts.
- Poinsettias require at least 14 hours of darkness (short-day plants) to result in full, beautiful blooms at Christmas.
- While poinsettias are NOT poisonous, it is not recommended to consume them and you should avoid contact with the white milky sap from the leaves or stems.
Poinsettia ‘Burning Ember’, trialed with NCSU 2016-2017. Photo from NC State.
Care:
- Water when the soil surface is dry to the touch—place the plant in the sink and apply water until water flows from the bottom of the pot. Avoid watering the plant in the foil sleeve they come in or allowing the plant to sit in water for prolonged periods.
- Temperatures should be between 60 and 70⁰F when not on display; they can tolerate temperatures up to 85⁰F—but not direct heat or sunlight.
- They can be overwintered and used next year as well!
Live Evergreen Décor
- Mainly comprised of Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri), Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus), Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica), Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii), and Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).
- Fraser Fir trees are native to the Appalachian Mountainous region above 2700 feet above sea level.
- Fraser Firs are the most common species of tree grown and sold in NC (94%).
- NC produces >20% of the real Christmas trees in the United States.
Abies concolor, Concolor Fir, used as a Christmas tree in the Forsyth County Extension office.
Care:
Steps To Prolong The Life of Live Greenery (Trees):
- Make a fresh cut along the bottom of the tree (~1 inch thick cut from the original cut).
- Place into a tree stand that holds more than 1 gallon (3800 mL) of water.
- Check water levels often (daily) and keep the stand full (trees will commonly absorb more than 1 gallon of water during the first 24 hours).
- Soak or mist wreaths or garlands for at least 30 minutes prior to install.
- Place greenery away from sources of heat, direct sunlight, or windows.
- Check light strands for broken, missing or non-functioning lights prior to decorating greenery.
- Turn lights off before going to bed or when leaving the home.
- Promptly remove greenery after the holiday season.
For more information, please visit the following sites:
Christmas Trees
General Christmas Tree Information:
NC State Extension Christmas Trees website
How To Keep Your Christmas Trees Fresh
Christmas Tree & Greenery Care:
Care for Your North Carolina Frasier Fir
Freshness, Fire Safety, and Your Tree
Hinesley, L. E. and G. A. Chastagner. 2016. Christmas tree keepability. p. 650-658. In: Gross, Kenneth C., Chien Yi Wang, and Mikal Saltveit (eds.). The Commercial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, and Florist and Nursery Crops. Agriculture Handbook 66, revised. USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area.