Caring for Holiday Plants and Decorations in the High Desert

Caring for live holiday decorations like poinsettia's, live trees, cut trees and greenery can be challenging, even more so here in the high desert of Northern Nevada. Our normal winter weather can be cold and dry. This post is meant to help keep your decorations safe and lovely as long as possible. First, make sure to buy fresh and healthy plants and greenery. Check to see is they are dry and brittle to the touch, look for pliable and soft limbs and needles. Once you get your tree up and greenery set use a humidifier every 7 to 10 days to keep moisture in the air.

Caring for Live Trees

Using a live evergreen for a holiday tree has great value. The best are fir trees, spruce trees and some pine varieties
Here are some important things to do ensuring your tree will thrive once planted in your landscape

● Limit stay in the home to 7 - 10 days, any longer can lead to death of the tree

● Make sure you have a spot large enough for the tree to grow to mature size, many evergreens can get 30 to 40 feet tall and wide
● Place tree in a garage or insulated shed for at least 4 to 5 days before you place in the home, it can be longer. Bring in for 7 to 10 days, take back out to the garage or shed for another 4 to 5 days before planting, if weather permits plant ASAP

● Water well just before bringing into the home, once top inch dries out use ice cubes to keep soil moist. Because the tree will only be in the home for a short time you many only need to water once or twice

● Don’t place tree near or over heater vents, or near fire. Find the coolest area possible to display your tree while in the home

Cut Tree Care
● Choose a tree whose needles are not easily removed.

● Keep the fresh cut moist with paper or cloth until in the tree stand

● Make sure your tree stand can hold plenty of water, CHECK the water reserve every 24 hours. A tree with a good fresh cut will use a larger amount of water keeping the tree fresher for a longer period of time

● Try to keep tree for direct heat

Poinsettia Care

● Place plant in a sunny area where temperatures stay 60° to 68°

● Keep plant from direct contact with heater vents and any cold or drafty areas

● Water when top 1” is dry, ice cubes work great. The melt slow enough for the plant to use the water easily.

Amaryllis
● Buy a kit; it will have the best soil and container

● Find a sunny area to set you planted bulb, water and watch it grow. If it gets to large you may have to stack the flower/stem keeping it from falling

Greenery

● Soak your wreath and garland in a sink or tub of water for several hours before hanging and decorating  

● Spray anti-desiccants or anti-transparent spray after soaking

● Keep from direct heat of any kind