The holidays are fast approaching, along with thoughts of decorating our homes and workplaces with the traditional favorites that are a part of our celebratory traditions. Gardeners, decorators, and crafters are gearing up for the trendy or traditional home designs that thrill, delight, and inspire onlookers every year. And not one of them would be complete without the inclusion of cactus, mistletoe, or poinsettias. 

 CHRISTMAS CACTUS 

 Christmas Cactus is the most common name for a plant that is widely cultivated for the holiday season and known as “Weihnachtskaktus” in Germany, “Cactus de Noel” in France, and “Cacto de Navidad” in Spain. Popular all over the world but native to South America, Christmas cactus is often found rooting in debris that has collected in the crotches of trees. 

 It is easy to care for and blooms appear in lovely shades of yellow, salmon, pink, white, and red. This is not a drought tolerant desert plant but a long-lived tropical that flowers for a month or more in winter and prefers conditions similar to those that orchids favor. 

 The use of a well-draining potting soil is helpful; over-watering may be problematic since the Christmas cactus cannot tolerate wet feet. To assist the plant in setting buds, one effective method is “dark treatment,” so called because the plant is placed in a dark room every night (like a closet) for about twelve hours and brought out again for the daylight hours. Keep away from drafts to prolong bloom display. 

 After flowering has come to an end, prune off a few sections to encourage branching. The cactus can spend time out of doors in spring and summer in a shady, protected area. Fertilize lightly with a balanced formula as you might for any houseplant. 

 Christmas cactus is surprisingly free of pests and disease although an occasional aphid or mealybug may try to make a home on young shoots or at soil level. Approved chemical treatments should solve any problems. 

 If cared for properly, a Christmas cactus may live for twenty years or more. Tips for maintaining a long-lived cactus include trimming of the branches when they become too heavy or long especially if the ends of the branches become limp or shriveled. 

 Trim by clipping back at the segment joints, cut each branch by at least a third. If your cactus is getting woody, cut back to the woody portions; new growth will develop from there. 

 Note that Christmas cactus is not toxic to cats or dogs. 

 AMERICAN MISTLETOE 

 American mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) is an evergreen, semi-parasitic plant with small leathery leaves and diminutive white berries. The mistletoe draws water and minerals from its host plant by attaching itself to branches of deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in fall and winter) like mesquite, oak, and apple. 

 It is the state flower of Oklahoma where, along with Texas, most mistletoe is gathered and harvested for the holidays. The fruit of the mistletoe is poisonous and most suppliers replace them with artificial plastic berries before they reach the market place. 

 Although the white berries of the mistletoe are toxic to humans, several species of mammals like deer, elk, squirrels, chipmunks, and porcupines depend on them to provide high protein nourishment. Robins, chickadees, bluebirds, and doves as well as butterflies dine on the berries and use the plant as nesting material. Butterflies also lay their eggs on mistletoe and bees find it an important source of pollen and nectar.

 The Christmas tradition of hanging mistletoe above a doorway dates to Victorian times, when it was believed that a kiss bestowed under the sprig of little white berries would bring eternal love. Several magical traditions are associated with the mistletoe including the protection of children from the mischief of fairies and providing a restful night’s sleep when placed in the bedroom. It is considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce or warring spouses “kiss and make-up.” 

 For those who wish to observe the proper etiquette: a gentleman should pluck a berry when he kisses a lady under the mistletoe and when the last berry is gone, there should be no more kissing! 

 Using mistletoe in your holiday decoration schemes takes only a little imagination and a small amount of time. The vine itself is attractive on its own but by adding some dried branches, glitter, and bows it can become part of an interesting and unique arrangement. 

 Remember, the leaves and vine of the mistletoe are toxic if ingested; the use of rubber gloves is suggested when handling this plant.

 POINSETTIAS 

 Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima…meaning “very beautiful”) are members of the spurge family of plants. They are native to Mexico where they were cultivated by the Aztecs who made a reddish-purple dye from the colorful bracts and used the milky sap to treat fever. The bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena or Flowers of the Holy Night, since they bloom each year during the Christmas season. 

 Joel Roberts Poinsett introduced the shrub to the United States in the 1820s. As the American Ambassador to Mexico, he sent plants and cuttings to his home in South Carolina to distribute among his horticultural friends and to botanical gardens. 

 Widely used in holiday floral displays, it is well known for its remarkable green and red foliage. The “flowers” are actually modified leaves known as bracts while the actual flowers are those small bead-like entities found in the center of the bracts. 

 Known as “short-day” plants, the poinsettias grow and mature during the long days of summer, but will only “flower” when the days become shorter in the fall and require complete darkness for eight to ten weeks to do so. 

 Place your poinsettias in indirect light, and while watering, take care to insure adequate drainage. Do not let their feet rest in water-filled trays as it may cause root rot. Do not fertilize while the plants are in bloom. 

 Anyone can easily create a festive atmosphere with little effort using poinsettias. Incorporated into holiday decorations, they add drama, sophistication, color, texture, and interest. Poinsettias look striking grouped together for a dramatic display, while a single petite plant can bring a cheerful air to a guest room or a small corner of the powder room.

 Place a bloom or two into several silver vases and assemble them in a collection on the mantle or dining room table for an elegant composition. Nearly any container can be adapted to create holiday arrangements using poinsettias—a red wagon at the front door, tin buckets or pails, hanging baskets lined with moss and sprayed with a glitter. Enjoy the plants during the season and beyond, but also remember that with a little care they can give you many years of pleasure and beauty.

 In spring, plant poinsettias in protected flower beds, cutting back the branches to about six inches. Once new growth has reached to 6-10 inches, pinch the tips to encourage fuller development. Continue this pinching back once a month until mid-August. 

 From September through November, move the plant to a location where it will not receive night time light or cover it with a box during the night hours. Even if flowering does not occur, the foliage of the poinsettia is attractive and worthy of inclusion in your garden year-round.

 Whether the poinsettia is poisonous is debatable among growers, but it is not intended for human consumption and should be kept out of reach of children and pets. When a stem breaks, a milky sap will seep out at the break and may cause some skin irritation. Wash thoroughly with soap and water.