GARDEN FANATIC:Pointers on caring for pointsettias

“Call a truce…. We are richer by one’s celebration of Christmas.” -- With apologies to Rudyard Kipling

“An inadvertent holiday slight is even less important than whether it is raining in Mexico.” -- With apologies to Iris Murdoch

The holiday season in Laguna continues with the festival of lights at Jeff and Gina’s home on Oak Street, while revelers Eve and Mary Kate are still involved with preparing peanut brittle and tasteful poinsettia placement.

The City Council certainly behaved like Scrooge by their dismal failure to reappoint Design Review Board incumbent David Michel, who celebrated the birth of his son, Marek, this week. Humbug! Meanwhile, Catharine and I are content to enjoy the sunny skies and avoid the traffic on Broadway.

Whether Christmas is in your plans or not, holiday plants may be in your future. Their care is easy … just follow a few simple steps. Place the plant in a well-lighted window and free from sudden temperature changes (avoid spaces adjacent to wood-burning fireplaces).

Keep the soil moist, but don’t let water stand in the plant’s saucer or foil. Gradual leaf drop is an indication of not enough light; crinkling, yellowing leaves may mean too much heat or lack of water, and rapid leaf drop shows exposure to cold or standing water in the saucer.

The splendid and ubiquitous poinsettia has become as popular here as in Loreto, Mexico. The Noche Buena holds emotional and religious significance for our southern neighbor, and some Mexicans are still irritated that former Ambassador to Mexico Joel Roberts Poinsett decided to name the plant after himself. I wouldn’t doubt that the good ambassador gave considerable thought to this “point,” while remembering the Alamo.

Your poinsettia will eventually occupy too much space to be a permanent indoor plant. However, if you follow care instructions from above, they should retain their red, pink or yellow color indoors well into spring. Once outdoors, grow them in a sunny garden locale with lots of space.

The azalea is a popular year-round gift plant and is also a valuable addition to the garden. Available in white, pink, red, salmon, purple and in combination colors, these profuse bloomers are hybridized as either shade or sun varieties. It’s a must to grow azaleas in an acid soil that retains moisture and drains quickly. Your favorite nursery can provide you with an azalea/camellia planting mix, nine parts to one part garden soil, for an optimal planting medium.

Christmas Cactus (Zygocactus truncatus) is a lovely hanging plant from Brazil. Not a true cactus, this one needs more water and is a favorite houseplant. The pink, red or white flowers are very showy, and its blooming schedule will let you know that next year Christmas is approaching.

Living Christmas trees are generally pines or other evergreens shaped in the traditional conical manner. Planted in a container and pruned regularly, these trees can be “recycled” for a number of years before planted in one’s garden or donated to selected municipalities (but not Laguna) or schools. They will not grow indoors — even if you leave the windows open — and should be moved outdoors before the year is over.

“The sun is shining, the grass is green … the orange and palm trees sway” (sorry about that Caren and Suzanne). What’s not to like about being in Laguna during Christmas? Best wishes for a great holiday and see you next time.