greenngrowing i yule tips for plants by elaine gordon for the pleasure of giving and the joy of receiving gift plants with showy flowers or interest ing fruits offer beauty for everyone some like the christmas cac tus and poinsettia are easy houseguests and if conditions are favorable can become permanent residents generally they prefer a brightlylit draftfree airy en vironment and if this is married to a little basic knowhow and lots of tlc blooming times and fresh appearances can be lengthened theyll languish near heat or in stuffy overheated areas so give them a cool room at least in the evening perhaps on a cool windowsill where theres lots of elbow room so foliage isnt touching cold glass panes if house temperatures drop five degrees at night so much the better to increase lifespans try to raise humidity stand pots on saucers of moist gravel or group together the vapor emitted by their leaves creates a moister atmosphere but leave space between them for light and ven tilation personally i think plants grow better when grouped than if isolated do allow for proper drainage by removing the foil wrap around their pots or by pun ching holes in the bottom of the foil the poinsettia harbinger of christmas looks equally splen did on a table or suspended in the air massing several on a raised platform in a basket gives a striking display a large one is shown off to great advantage when placed in a low position on the floor this native of mexico likes bright light monthly feeding an occasional misting and a drink when soil surface is dry to the touch they dislike drafts and being close to heat sources the showy bracts they surround the actual insignificant yellow flower in the centre will last longer in a room thats not overheated the easygoing christmas cactus is a favorite holiday plant because it can be kept hap py in rooms that were comfort able in and with proper care will thrive for many years it isnt a desert cactus so keep the soil evenly moist not wet and dont allow it to total ly dry out insects rarely bug this one the splashes of color from drooping flowers in a mature plant can be set off splendidly flying high in a hanging basket while a small one can sit nicely on a table shelf or draftfree brightlylit windowsill move it father back from the window in summer so leaves arent sunburned it does have a disapointing habit though if the direction of light is changed even a quarter- turn of the container may do it promising buds could be lost the hoya wax plantporce lain flower will drop buds for the same reason too upgrading of pot size is only done if roots fill the pot if the plant doesnt have cramped feet clean the original contajn- soil weekeflpernovemberl i j v i ism mssl i jl i s j 1 1 1 i j 1 1 1 1 i veheimns custommade aluminum venetian blinds made to your exact measurements over 120 colors available in plain prints meiallics 3 free colour mix ex24x24 sale from 38 00 receive a fre with the purchase of custom ver tical blind selected mfgs only 1000stochoosefrom afenirlanblilnds sfflt height sale 18x4512 20w13 22x4514 23x4515 27x4518 31x4520 33x4522 36x4524 height sale 38x4525 40x4526 44x4529 48x4531 54x4s35 60x4539 72x4547 while ivory only swont be undersold we guarantee im 72x84 fabric ifq00 iu9 valance incl 72x84 pvc ggoo 84x84 fabric 84x84 pvc tun hcl lifetime guarantee on track it n linen sheer j boucle sheer j imip i lershade 37ft 4vh 49v 55 gfw 73tt plain hem 22 27 35 43 54 58 fringe hem 27 35 43 50 62 69