Gardening in the Lowcountry: Guide to holiday blooms

How to care for and display your favorite holiday blooms

Story by Alea Wilkins and Suzanne Barton

’Tis the season for winter’s brightest blooms. Poinsettias, cyclamen and amaryllis make their annual return in striking fashion, enlivening homes with vibrant hues and a burst of holiday cheer. To keep your plants looking merry and bright, Suzanne Barton, manager of The Green Thumb, shares care tips, debunks a common myth and suggests a great gift for gardeners, both seasoned and new. Follow her advice, and your festive florals will thrive well into the new year.

[LOCAL Life] Where is the best place for my poinsettias?

[Suzanne Barton] Poinsettias are very fragile plants. Their branches are brittle, and they damage easily when exposed to rain or wind. If you’re having a holiday party on a nice, sunny day, they could be brought outside, but most of the time I recommend they stay indoors. Even there, they can be sensitive to cold drafts or heat blowing directly on them. Put them in indirect sunlight, and be careful not to over water. The top inch of soil should feel dry before thoroughly watering. Your poinsettias could last between four and eight weeks.

[LL] Are poinsettias toxic for pets?

[SB] This is a common fear, but it’s kind of a myth. Poinsettias have latex in their sap that can irritate your pet’s throat and stomach, but they’d have to eat a whole bunch before it would make them really sick. As for any house plant, pay attention if your pet is interested in eating it. If necessary, move it out of reach. 

[LL] What plants can I use to decorate outdoors?

[SB] Cyclamen bloom in winter, so now is the perfect time to enjoy them in your garden. They prefer cool and shady spots with bright, indirect sunlight, and they go dormant as the soil starts to warm. Pansies, too, are cold-hardy and can last through the winter with light watering. 

[LL] What are the best holiday flowers to give as gifts?

[SB] Amaryllis are by far the holiday plant with the easiest care regimen. You can buy them as a bulb sealed with wax, and they’ll grow anywhere — no water or soil required. I gave one to my stepmom last year, and she was nervous to look after it at first. Once she saw it grow, she got so excited. Better yet, you can plant the bulbs in the spring, and they will last year after year. It’s really a gift that keeps on giving.

Plant & protect

Smart seasonal tips from Lowcountry Gardening, a guide written and produced by the Lowcountry Master Gardener Association

South Carolina’s Arbor Day is Dec. 5. This is the ideal time to plant trees and shrubs. Dormant plants may not look promising, but the absence of leaves lets them concentrate on developing strong root systems. It is also a good time to transplant trees and shrubs.  

When frost threatens, be prepared to move vulnerable container plants indoors. Cover others with sheets, lightweight blankets or frost cloth. Soaking the bare soil a few days before a cold event can help keep heat in the soil. 

Protect the graft union on citrus trees that are left outside by covering with burlap, blankets, pipe insulation or even pool noodles. If cold kills the tree above the union, the rootstock may take over, resulting in sour, inedible fruit. Covering young trees with blankets, sheets or frost cloth can conserve enough heat to keep trees alive.

Excerpted from Lowcountry Gardening, written and published by the Lowcountry Master Gardener Association. Grab a copy of this handy guide to all things Lowcountry gardening for $5 at The Greenery, Bruno Landscape & Nursery, The Green Thumb or the Master Gardener booth at the Bluffton and Port Royal farmers markets. For more information, head over to LowcountryMGA.org.